Visitor Reception Building and Westminster Hall

Derek Conway: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission if he will make a statement on progress with planning for the Visitor Reception Building and its likely impact on Westminster Hall.

Nick Harvey: In May last year the House agreed to the proposal made in the joint Report from the Accommodation and Works and Administration Committees for a new Visitor Reception Building to be sited at the north west corner of Westminster Hall. The House of Lords endorsed this proposal in July last year.
	Over the past 12 months work on design has progressed. Tenders will be invited in August 2005. Construction is due to begin on site in December 2005. It is planned to complete the work by the time of return of the House in October 2006.
	A model of the new Visitor Reception Building will be exhibited in the Upper Waiting Hall from 27 June to 1 July, in the atrium of Portcullis House from 4 to 8 July, and in the Royal Gallery in the House of Lords from 11 to 15 July.
	The construction of the new facility will in any event involve some disruption to Westminster Hall as well as the facilities on the west side of the Hall. To avoid such disruption being spread over a number of years, the opportunity is being taken to undertake at the same time a number of maintenance and repair projects in Westminster Hall itself, including replacement of the guttering and repairs to the south stairs and floor. As a result, Westminster Hall, the Grand Committee Room, the Jubilee Cafe, the Jubilee Room, the meeting rooms off Westminster Hall, and the IPU and CPA offices and reception rooms will be inaccessible from the end of December 2005 until October 2006.
	Mr. Speaker has decided that sittings of the House in Westminster Hall will be held in Committee Room 10, with effect from January 2006 until the return of the House in October 2006.
	As a temporary measure to replace the W meeting rooms off Westminster Hall, Committee Room 21 on the Upper Committee Corridor will be divided into two separate meeting rooms. The Serjeant at Arms will shortly be circulating further details of arrangements for other meeting rooms.
	As a temporary measure to alleviate the effect of the closure of the Jubilee Room, functions held in the Macmillan Room in Portcullis House will be allowed to use outside caterers, as will meetings in additional spaces to be made available by the House of Lords.
	The offices of the UK branch of the CPA will be moved to temporary offices in 2 The Abbey Garden. The Chess Room will be made available as a reception room.

Aircraft (Carbon Dioxide)

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures she plans to put in place to reduce carbon dioxide output from aircraft entering or leaving the United Kingdom.

Elliot Morley: This Government are concerned about the contribution that UK aviation makes to global warming, which by 2030 could amount to about a quarter of the UK's total contribution to climate change. We are working hard domestically and in the EU to reduce the impact of aviation on climate change. Defra Ministers and officials worked closely with colleagues at the Department for Transport to ensure that this vital issue was addressed in the Government's Air Transport White Paper which was published in December 2003. As a result, the Government's long term aviation policy has repeated our commitment to taking a lead on climate change and recognises the need for aviation to take its share of responsibility for tackling the impact of air transport on global warming.
	The preferred Government option for tackling the contribution that aviation makes to global warming is through a well designed emissions trading scheme. For an international industry, an international trading regime is the best solution, and we are working with the International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO) to achieve this. Within the EU we will be pressing for the inclusion of aviation into the EU emissions trading scheme, and have made this a top priority for the UK presidency of the EU, with a view to aviation joining the scheme in 2008, or as soon as possible thereafter. Officials from DfT and Defra have already approached other member states on the matter and are working closely with the European Commission.
	This provides a solid foundation for action in tackling aviation's global impacts. However, we recognise that this may not provide a total solution. In view of this, we will continue to explore and discuss options for the use of other economic instruments for tackling aviation's greenhouse gas emissions, building on the work in the March 2003 report "Aviation and the Environment: Using Economic Instruments".

Badgers

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the relationship between badger populations and the incidence of TB in cattle.

Ben Bradshaw: There are no recent data on the relationship between badger population density and the incidence of TB in cattle.
	Investigation of the prevalence of TB in wild badgers is being carried out through the Randomised Badger Culling Trial (RBCT) and the Road Traffic Accident survey of badgers found dead in seven English counties. The RBCT will provide some information on badger numbers within the trial areas, which could be related to cattle herd breakdown rates. However, badger density estimates may not be very reliable even in trial areas (they would be based on trapping returns and field survey information).

Civil Servants

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what value for money procurement savings were identified and what reduction in civil service posts occurred in her Department in 2004–05.

Jim Knight: This information is as follows:
	(a) Value for Money Savings
	DEFRA's value for money procurement gains for 2004–05 are being calculated and will be published in the 2005 Treasury Autumn Performance report.
	(b) Reductions in Civil Service Posts in 2004–05
	In Budget 2005 the Chancellor announced a headcount reduction of 12,500 posts by the end of 2004–05, towards the Government's target of a gross reduction of 84,000 civil service and administrative posts by 2008.
	DEFRA's target is to reduce its headcount by 2,400 (measured as full-time equivalent posts) by the end of 2007–08. The programmes that make up DEFRA's efficiency portfolio contributed 340 posts to this target in financial year 2004–05. The majority of these post reductions were delivered through restructuring and the introduction of new working practices in the Rural Payments Agency (235 posts) and the human resources function (91 posts).
	DEFRA's staff in post figures show a reduction of 445 posts between 1 April 2004 and 1 April 2005. This includes the transfer of 320 members of staff to IBM as part of the outsourcing of IT services in October 2004. However, these transfers cannot be counted as efficiencies, as the individuals continue to work on DEFRA's account. The reason that the balance does not match the reductions delivered through the efficiency programme is that DEFRA has taken on staff to meet new work areas arising from the Spending Review 2004 settlement, such as the world summit on climate change and the EU presidency.

Laptop Computers

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many laptop computers have been used by (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) officials in her Department in each year since 1995; how many have been (i) lost and (ii) stolen in that period; what the cost was of the use of laptops in that period; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Department have only been in existence since June 2001. Information covering earlier periods is therefore not available.
	The number of laptop computers available for use is:
	
		
			  Financial year 
			  2001–02 2004–05 
		
		
			 Ministers 6 16 
			 Special advisers n/a 2 
			 Officials 1,835 2,127 
		
	
	n/a = Not available
	It should be noted that the laptops shown as available for use by Ministers are held by their private offices and are available for use by Ministers, special advisers and staff.
	Data for the intervening years could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
	The number of laptops (i) lost and (ii) stolen is:
	
		
			 Financial year Lost Stolen 
		
		
			 2000–01 0 7 
			 2001–02 5 6 
			 2002–03 0 2 
			 2003–04 0 0 
			 2004–05 0 3 
		
	
	To calculate the cost of using laptops there are many elements to consider, such as, purchase cost, peripheral devices, maintenance, depreciation, service provision and electricity used. Each of these costs would be different for each different model of laptop used in the Department. The time required collating this information and to calculate this figure, even if it were available, would result in a disproportionate cost.

Luxembourg Plan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the likely effects on rural development of the implementation of the Luxembourg Plan.

Jim Knight: There have been two initiatives on rural development under the Luxembourg Presidency.
	The hon. Gentleman will be aware that the European Council's discussions on 16–17 June did not reach agreement on the future financing of the EU. The financial amounts available for rural development will depend on the outcome of the negotiations on future financing of the EU, and on factors such as the ability of member states to transfer resources from traditional direct subsidies to farmers (so-called "Pillar 1") to rural development measures. This is a practice which the UK has followed since 2001; and the UK is pressing to ensure that domestic agri-environment programmes can continue to be funded in this way.
	The Luxembourg Presidency did, however, secure political agreement to the draft Rural Development Regulation at Agricultural Council on 20 June (subject to any necessary amendment in the light of future financing decisions). The regulation sets out the framework for EU co-financed rural development expenditure from 2007 to 2013. My Department's assessment was set out in Explanatory Memorandum 11495/04.

Mole-catchers

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment her Department made of the working practices of mole-catchers before she agreed to the banning of strychnine hydrochloride as a biocidal agent.

Elliot Morley: Defra recognised the problems that the withdrawal of strychnine could cause for the control of moles. The Central Science Laboratory was commissioned to undertake a review of the range of mole control methods which exist across the EU. The aim of this review was to produce guidance on the most humane and effective methods of mole control which are currently available.
	The report "A review of methods used within the European Union to control the European Mole, Talpa Europaea" was published by Defra in February 2004. It concluded that the unavailability of strychnine in the future suggests that landowners and occupiers will have to assess more carefully whether moles should be controlled or left alone in order to avoid initiating measures that are unnecessary or unlikely to reduce damage levels in the long term. If control is necessary, then alternative methods are available such as trapping and fumigation.

Single Farm Payment

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the representations she has received on the effects of single farm payment on motor sports events being held on agricultural land; what response she has made; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Knight: holding answer 21 June 2005
	Land used in support of claims for payment under the 2005 Single Payment Scheme (SPS) must be at the claimants' disposal for the 10-month period nominated on their claim forms. Under recently updated guidance issued by the Department, motor sports may take place on up to 28 days during the nominated 10-month period, in addition to all of the remaining two months of the year. The updated guidance takes on board representations made by motor sports interests and, overall, we would expect the impact of the SPS on the availability of farmland used for such sports to be limited.
	Since the updated guidance was issued, the Department has received additional representations from the All Party Parliamentary Group for Motorcycles, the Motorsport Industry Association and a number of individuals, which are currently being considered.

Waste Management

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many kilogrammes per capita of (a) municipal, (b) commercial and industrial and (c) waste electrical and electronic equipment were (i) recycled, (ii) sent to incineration and (iii) landfilled in each member state of the European Union in (A) 2000, (B) 2001, (C) 2002, (D) 2003 and (E) 2004.

Ben Bradshaw: The information is as follows:
	(a) The following tables show the amount of municipal waste recycled, incinerated and landfilled per capita, in each EU country, for each year from 2000 to 2003 based on data supplied to and published by Eurostat.
	
		(i) Municipal waste recycled and composted/kgper capita per year
		
			  2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Austria 320 321 357 362 
			 Belgium 230 239 246 231 
			 Bulgaria 117 102 96 92 
			 Croatia n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Cyprus 67 69 71 71 
			 Czech Republic 21 24 35 40 
			 Denmark 246 257 254 278 
			 Estonia 2 76 98 144 
			 Finland 145 141 127 124 
			 France 131 142 151 158 
			 Germany 312 305 360 365 
			 Greece 36 37 37 35 
			 Hungary 35 36 40 49 
			 Iceland 93 106 132 135 
			 Ireland 49 166 194 227 
			 Italy 82 123 153 151 
			 Latvia 18 5 66 104 
			 Lithuania 0 0 0 0 
			 Luxembourg 235 244 223 235 
			 Malta 146 78 n/a n/a 
			 Netherlands 369 363 371 386 
			 Norway 189 431 461 474 
			 Poland 6 12 8 8 
			 Portugal 38 13 28 16 
			 Romania 61 70 76 76 
			 Slovakia 120 181 32 68 
			 Slovenia 111 121 126 104 
			 Spain 219 193 190 208 
			 Sweden 166 174 187 195 
			 Turkey 140 117 126 125 
			 United Kingdom 65 74 90 105 
		
	
	
		(ii) Municipal waste incinerated/kg per capita per year
		
			  2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Austria 65 65 66 65 
			 Belgium 157 161 158 159 
			 Bulgaria 0 0 0 0 
			 Croatia n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Cyprus 0 0 0 0 
			 Czech Republic 31 35 39 39 
			 Denmark 352 374 374 363 
			 Estonia 0 1 0 0 
			 Finland 52 41 39 41 
			 France 174 181 187 189 
			 Germany 133 135 143 146 
			 Greece 0 0 0 0 
			 Hungary 34 35 28 24 
			 Iceland 61 39 35 38 
			 Ireland 0 0 0 0 
			 Italy 40 44 47 49 
			 Latvia 0 12 23 10 
			 Lithuania 0 0 0 0 
			 Luxembourg 284 275 284 274 
			 Malta 0 0 0 0 
			 Netherlands 190 199 194 197 
			 Norway 90 99 109 120 
			 Poland 0 0 1 1 
			 Portugal 96 104 91 98 
			 Romania 0 0 0 0 
			 Slovakia 0 0 29 29 
			 Slovenia 0 0 2 3 
			 Spain 37 37 38 40 
			 Sweden 164 169 188 212 
			 Turkey 0 0 0 0 
			 United Kingdom 41 43 46 45 
		
	
	
		(iii) Municipal waste landfilled/kg per capita per year
		
			  2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Austria 196 192 188 183 
			 Belgium 81 62 58 56 
			 Bulgaria 399 403 404 407 
			 Croatia n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Cyprus 613 634 638 653 
			 Czech Republic 282 214 205 201 
			 Denmark 67 46 40 34 
			 Estonia 438 295 308 274 
			 Finland 306 284 291 285 
			 France 227 222 219 214 
			 Germany 165 160 137 127 
			 Greece 372 380 385 393 
			 Hungary 376 380 389 390 
			 Iceland 842 861 855 867 
			 Ireland 554 541 504 505 
			 Italy 380 341 325 323 
			 Latvia 252 285 280 248 
			 Lithuania 309 300 288 263 
			 Luxembourg 138 131 146 149 
			 Malta 337 472 474 549 
			 Netherlands 57 50 50 16 
			 Norway 336 105 107 102 
			 Poland 310 275 263 251 
			 Portugal 338 355 328 338 
			 Romania 294 266 307 288 
			 Slovakia 196 209 222 222 
			 Slovenia 402 358 351 344 
			 Spain 339 365 360 361 
			 Sweden 98 99 93 64 
			 Turkey 360 357 353 349 
			 United Kingdom 463 465 464 460 
		
	
	n/a = Data are not available, or have been omitted due to significant quality issues.
	Notes:
	Data for incineration and landfill are collected and published by Eurostat for the EU structural indicators. The recycling figures are an estimate produced by subtracting the amount landfilled and incinerated from the total amount of municipal waste generated.
	(b) The following table shows information made available by Eurostat on non-hazardous industrial waste data only. International data on commercial and industrial waste are limited and definitions may not be consistent between countries. Figures are provided intermittently by member states, the following table therefore gives the most recent data produced.
	
		Non-hazardous industrial waste arisings/kg per capita per year
		
			  Recycled and composted Incinerated Landfilled Year on which data are based 
		
		
			 Bulgaria n/a n/a n/a — 
			 Croatia 144 87 n/a 2000 
			 Czech Republic 30 26 92 2001 
			 Denmark 351 72 114 2000 
			 Finland 1,001 1,156 561 2000 
			 France 211 60 66 1999 
			 Germany 308 58 193 2000 
			 Hungary 182 15 34 2000 
			 Iceland n/a n/a n/a — 
			 Ireland n/a n/a n/a — 
			 Italy n/a n/a n/a — 
			 Latvia 25 12 84 2001 
			 Lithuania 79 33 413 2001 
			 Malta n/a n/a 62 2001 
			 Netherlands 986 67 79 2001 
			 Norway 236 120 293 1999 
			 Poland 1 5 266 2001 
			 Portugal 311 73 148 2000 
			 Romania 104 11 410 2000 
			 Sweden 892 720 290 1998 
			 Turkey n/a 0 31 1997 
			 United Kingdom 303 12 264 1998 
		
	
	n/a = Data are not available, or have been omitted due to significant quality issues.
	(c) Figures for waste electronic and electrical equipment are not available at European Union level.

Female Education

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of progress towards access to reproductive education for women in third world countries.

Hilary Benn: The most recent assessment of progress is that contained in the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Report: State of the World Population 2004: "The Cairo Consensus at Ten: Population Reproductive Health and the Global Effort to End Poverty". The report shows areas of progress in meeting the 1994 Cairo goal of ensuring universal voluntary access to a full range of reproductive health, education, information, care and services by 2015.
	Many countries have established or are developing reproductive health programmes and are recognising also the links between female education and reproductive health. But millions of people—particularly poor women—still lack access to quality services, including accurate information, education and modern family planning methods. This is why DFID continues to give priority to supporting reproductive health and rights for women.

Honours

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many officials currently in the Department received honours in the recent Queen's Birthday Honours List; and at what rank of honour.

Gareth Thomas: I refer my hon. Friend to the response given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Mr. Hutton) on 22 June 2005, Official Report, column 1059W.

Mozambique

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance he plans to give to Mozambique to establish (a) river and (b) coastal transport to improve its transport infrastructure; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The majority of DFID's financial assistance in Mozambique is provided directly to the Government of Mozambique to meet agreed poverty reduction priorities; of which infrastructure is one. DFID has no plans to provide specific support to improve either river or coastal transport in Mozambique.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations he has made to the Government of Sudan on conflict between internally displaced persons and the police in Soba Aradi, Khartoum.

Hilary Benn: On 18 May around 15 people died when violence erupted in the Soba Aradi camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) south of Khartoum, when attempts were made to move the IDPs to a new camp. On 19 May, I issued a statement expressing the UK's grave concern and called on all sides to prevent any further loss of life. I urged the Government to respect the human rights of the IDPs, protect its citizens and bring those responsible to justice. I followed this up during my visit to Sudan between 12–14 June, and pressed the First Vice-President, on the importance of improving relations between IDPs and local police.
	The British ambassador in Khartoum also raised the incident with the Government, and pressed them to investigate the incident in consultation with the Joint National Transition Team under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, and to take the necessary steps to prevent it happening in the future.
	We have repeatedly made clear to the Government that all returns and relocations must be entirely voluntary and take place in line with the established international monitoring mechanisms that are in place.

Armoured Vehicles

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  whether (a) BAE Systems Land Systems and (b) its contractors will be purchasing any of the (i) body (excluding armour) and (ii) drive components for the manufacture of the Panther Command and Liaison vehicle from (A) Iveco and (B) other non-UK contractors;
	(2)  what difference there is between the (a) body (excluding armour), (b) engine, (c) gearboxes, (d) drive mechanism and (e) wheels of the (i) Panther Command and Liaison vehicle and (ii) Italian Light Multirole Tactical vehicle.

Adam Ingram: The United Kingdom's Panther Command and Liaison Vehicle when compared to an Italian Light Multirole Tactical Vehicle in the same role would have no significant difference in the body, engine, gearbox, drive mechanism or wheels. BAE Systems Land Systems will purchase a complete base vehicle from Iveco. This will include the drive components and the vehicle body but will exclude the roof. The contractor for the supply of the vehicle roof will be determined by BAE Systems Land Systems before Panther enters full manufacture.

DEFCON 534

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what arrangements are in place to monitor his Department's contractors payments performance against their contractual requirements under DEFCON 534;
	(2)  whether DEFCON 534 is included in all of his Department's contracts.

Adam Ingram: Unless it is known for certain from the outset that there will be no sub-contractor involvement it is policy to include this DEFCON in all contracts.
	The Ministry of Defence has no centrally co-ordinated arrangement in place to monitor defence contractors' payments performance to their sub-contractors under the terms of DEFCON 534 as, due to the high number of contracts let by the Department, it would not be cost effective to do so. That said, where it is specifically relevant to the performance of an MOD contract, Integrated Project Teams can include a performance indicator to measure payment of sub-contractors in the Supplier and Customer Performance Measurement tool, a non-contractual tool implemented to measure performance on contracts with a value of £5 million or over.
	In addition, in the autumn of 2001, MOD agreed with industry a set of Codes of Best Practice (MOD/Industry Commercial Policy Group Guideline no. 5) which include principles requiring Prime Contractors
	"to pay promptly for work done in accordance with contracts made".

Gibraltar

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many ships the Royal Navy can dock at Gibraltar at any one time.

Adam Ingram: British Forces Gibraltar has seven operational berths, two of which are classified as Z berths capable of supporting nuclear powered warships (NPW). The number of vessels that could be supported at any one time would depend on size, draught, and their compatibility to berth ships alongside each other, the level of support required and the presence of any NPW.

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  whether the British Deputy Senior Judge Advocate in Iraq referred to in a letter from the former Minister of State to the hon. Member for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr submitted regular reports to his British superiors;
	(2)  what the remit was of the British Deputy in the office of the Senior Judge Advocate in Iraq in relation to (a) detainees and (b) operational matters;
	(3)  for what reasons and in what capacity Colonel Chris Terrington saw a version of the CJTF-7 Interrogation and Counter-Resistance policy document in December 2003;
	(4)  which (a) sections and (b) drafts of the interrogation and counter-resistance policy document were seen by the British Deputy Senior Judge Advocate in Iraq; and what comments he made;
	(5)  whether the UK officer acting as Deputy Senior Judge Advocate in Iraq advised (a) the US authorities and (b) his supervisors in the chain of command that some of the interrogation techniques in the CJIF-7 Interrogation and Counter-Resistance Policy Document (i) were inhumane under UK case law and (ii) constituted a potential breach of the Geneva Conventions in the view of the Government;
	(6)  whether the British deputy in the office of the Senior Judge Advocate in Iraq asked Major George O'Kane to investigate allegations of abuse at Abu Ghraib;
	(7)  whether the British deputy in the office of the Senior Judge Advocate in Iraq saw the International Committee of the Red Cross working paper based on a visit to Abu Ghraib in October 2003.

Adam Ingram: I undertook to write to you in answer to your Parliamentary Questions of 23 May 2005, Official Report, columns 24–25W, on the role of UK staff embedded within the office of the Staff Judge Advocate in the Combined Joint Task Force 7. I wrote to you on 16 June correcting an inaccuracy in a previous letter and attaching responses to these outstanding Parliamentary Questions. I am writing to you again now to set out in the body of a letter the answers I gave you so that they can be published in the Official Report.
	The British Officer embedded within the office of the Staff Judge Advocate had a very limited role in relation to detainees. In addition to providing comments on a US interrogation policy document in August 2003, he produced a summary of an ICRC Report in November 2003, which was circulated to senior personnel within CJTF-7. With regard to operational law, he provided advice on targeting and operational planning at Corps level. This involved the application of the Laws of Armed Conflict and US Rules of Engagement.
	The British Officer recalls submitting reports, both orally and in writing, to his British superiors. We have not been able to locate copies of those reports.
	The British Officer did not ask Major O'Kane to investigate allegations of abuse at Abu Ghraib.
	We have established that the British Officer did not see a version of the CJTF-7 "Interrogation and Counter-Resistance" policy. The British Officer played no part in drafting that policy. This is contrary to my letter of 31 January 2005. I apologise for the error. In fact, the British Officer saw a separate US interrogation policy document dated 27 August 2003.
	That Document was entitled "ABU GHURAYB: Saddam Fedayeen Interrogation Facility (SFIF) Detainee Interrogation Policy". We understand that it was drafted to apply to one section within Abu Ghraib, and the Fay report confirms that it was quickly superseded by the September version of the Interrogation and Counter-Resistance" policy, which we have not seen.
	It sets out a range of interrogation techniques which were considered to be lawful under the prevailing US interpretation of the Geneva Conventions. The document was written by and for US personnel to whom the US interpretation applied. The document was passed to us in confidence, and we cannot release details of its contents.
	I am placing a copy of this letter in the Library of the House.

Iraq

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action has been taken on unexploded ordnance in the region of Iraq where the UK has responsibility; how much has been (a) allocated and (b) spent to date by the UK for this purpose; how much ordnance has been destroyed; what estimate has been made of unexploded ordnance still to be dealt with in the area; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The UK takes seriously its obligations to deal with unexploded ordnance in Iraq. Since the end of major combat operations, a UK Joint Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group (currently about 90 strong) has been deployed alongside other coalition forces, NGOs and contractors clearing sites containing unexploded ordnance. During the war fighting phase over 200,000 items of munitions were destroyed by coalition teams. Since then a further 860,000 items have been recovered or destroyed by UK teams. The UK has uncovered 67 formal ammunition depots in the region of Iraq where the UK has responsibility. The UK has currently cleared 64 of these depots; the final three are in the process of being cleared.
	The Department for International Development has provided further funding to this area through UN-related organisations and a UK-registered charity, Mines Advisory Group. £30 million has been provided to the United Nations Development Group International Trust Fund to support Explosive Ordnance Disposal capacity building and clearance. In addition, £4 million has been directed to the United Nations Mines Action Service to provide the UN's humanitarian agencies with a responsive and co-ordinated mine action capability to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance. Further funding of around £2 million has been directed through the Mines Advisory Group to facilitate a number of projects.

Omagh Resident Battalion

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria were used when deciding whether to replace the 1st Battalion King's Own Scottish Borders at Omagh when they conclude their term as the Omagh Resident Battalion in August 2006.

Adam Ingram: The decision not to replace the 1st Battalion The King's Own Scottish Borderers at Omagh when they conclude their term as the Omagh Resident Battalion in August 2006 was based on the assessment by the General Officer Commanding (Northern Ireland) and Chief Constable Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) of the improving security situation. It reflects the increasing success of the PSNI in dealing with the threat from terrorism without routine military support.
	The Army remains committed to providing the support that the PSNI requires to counter the threat from terrorism and to prevent potential public disorder, and will continue to keep force levels in Northern Ireland under regular review.

Prisoners of War (Compensation)

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the memorandum of 13 July 2001 from Mr. Alan Mayers of the Department's Far East Prisoners of War Group to Mr. John Hardy, Army Historical Branch, which states that race was included as a deciding factor in the eligibility criteria for the compensation scheme.

Don Touhig: This document was a statement by one official in 2001. It did not and does not represent the view of the Government. The question of whether the application of one of the eligibility criteria of the Ex Gratia Payment Scheme for Far East Prisoners of War and Civilian Internees may have constituted race discrimination is the subject of judicial review proceedings.

Service Personnel

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British service personnel are (a) deployed and (b) stationed in (i) Germany, (ii) Northern Ireland, (iii) Bosnia-Herzegovina, (iv) Croatia, (v) Kosovo, (vi) Albania, (vii) the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, (viii) Sierra Leone, (ix) the Gulf Region, (x) Turkey, (xi) Gibraltar, (xii) Belize, (xiii) Kenya, (xiv) Canada, (xv) the Falkland Islands, (xvi) Cyprus, (xvii) Brunei and (xviii) Afghanistan.

Adam Ingram: The approximate number of British service personnel deployed or stationed in the locations specified are shown as follows:
	
		All figures rounded
		
			  Deployed Stationed 
		
		
			 Germany 0 22,200 
			 Northern Ireland 0 10,400 
			 Bosnia-Herzegovina 750 0 
			 Croatia 0 0 
			 Kosovo 170 0 
			 Albania 0 0 
			 FYR of Macedonia 10 0 
			 Sierra Leone 10 0 
			 The Gulf Region 9,200 0 
			 Turkey 0 0 
			 Gibraltar 0 560 
			 Belize 0 50 
			 Kenya (training team only) 0 10 
			 Canada (training team only) 0 220 
			 The Falkland Islands 1,150 0 
			 Cyprus 300 2,900 
			 Brunei 0 430 
			 Afghanistan 980 0 
		
	
	The figures in the table do not include personnel serving in loan/diplomatic posts, or training detachments.

Troop Deployment (Basra)

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions his Department has held concerning the deployment of UK troops outside the Basra area; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The posture of United Kingdom forces in Iraq is kept under constant review. UK forces are already deployed "outside the Basra area", predominately in other parts of Multi-National Division (South East) but also in Baghdad as part of the Multi-National Force—Iraq Headquarters and the NATO Training Mission-Iraq. There are no current plans to change existing UK force dispositions in Iraq.

Apprenticeships

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many apprenticeships were (a) started, (b) on programme and (c) completed in (i) 2002–03, (ii) 2003–04 and (iii) 2004–05.

Phil Hope: The information requested is routinely published by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) in Statistical First Releases (SFRs). The numbers of starts and the number on programme (in-learning) on apprenticeships in 2002/03, 2003/04 and the first three months of 2004/05 are shown in tables 4 and 5 of the LSC SFR "Further Education, Work Based Learning for Young People and Adult and Community Learning—Learner Numbers in England on 1 October 2004", available on the DfES website: httD://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000567/index.shtml
	Apprenticeship framework completion rates and the total number of leavers in 2002/03 and 2003/04 will be shown in table 7 of the forthcoming LSC SFR "Further Education and Work Based Learning for Young People—Learner Outcomes in England: 2003/04", due to be published at 9.30 am on 28 June, and will be available on the DfES website: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000583/index.shtml
	Provisional figures for the first six months of 2004/05 are available on the LSC's apprenticeships website: http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk/partners/frameworks/apprenticeshipsdata

Apprenticeships

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many apprenticeships there were in each year between 1994 and 1996.

Bill Rammell: Apprenticeships, formerly Modern Apprenticeships, were launched as an initiative in September 1994. By the end of July 1995, there were 2,100 people on apprenticeship programmes. They were fully operational from September 1995 and at the end of July 1996, there were 35,100 people on them. These figures are taken from the DfES Statistical First Release "Government Supported, Work Based Learning for Young People in England: 2001/02", available on the DfES website: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000358/index.shtml.

Business Support (Hertfordshire)

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures she is taking to encourage vocational skills training in Hertfordshire; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Hope: Specific measures to encourage vocational skills training in Hertfordshire are a matter for the Learning and Skills Council. Mark Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive, will write to the hon. Member with this information and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.
	The Government's Skills Strategy, "21st Century Skills: Realising Our Potential" (July 2003) and "Skills: Getting on in business, getting on at work" (March 2005) set out our plans for increasing opportunities for adults to develop their skills. The 14–19 White Paper, "14–19 Education and Skills", published in February, set out proposals to improve vocational education and qualifications for young people through a national entitlement to specialised diplomas in 14 broad sector areas. Employers, through Sector Skills Councils, will lead in their design and higher education institutions will also have an important role to play.
	Letter from Mark Haysom to Mr. Charles Walker, dated 8 June 2005
	Thank you for your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills where you ask what measures she will take to encourage vocational skills training in Hertfordshire. The Secretary of State has asked me to reply on her behalf as Chief Executive of the Learning and Skills Council.
	In its Strategic Area Review, the LSC for Hertfordshire recognises that the depth and breadth of vocational learning in Hertfordshire is limited. It is working with partners to develop vocational provision for 14–16 year olds. For example, the Increased Flexibility Programme offers young people the opportunity to undertake vocational qualifications, usually undertaking some work at the local College. Nearly 1,500 Hertfordshire young people are currently on the programme. The LSC is also supporting collaboration between schools and colleges for 16–19 year olds, with Colleges leading on developing the vocational elements. Excellent examples of this work can be seen in Welwyn Garden City and Stevenage, with encouraging developments in Hemel Hempstead, Broxbourne and St. Albans. In Bishops Stortford, Hertford Regional College is working with Birchwood High School to develop vocational provision on the school site, with funding support from the LSC.
	In many parts of Hertfordshire the Further Education infrastructure is in an unsatisfactory condition. The LSC has supported the development of facilities for Learners with Learning Difficulties and Disabilities at Ware, and for construction at Broxbourne (which is due to open this September). Major campus redevelopments are being planned at 3 of Hertfordshire's 4 Colleges—Oaklands, West Herts and Hertford Regional. Plans for establishing a "Skills Centre" in Hemel Hempstead are also being developed with West Herts College, working closely with the Dacorum schools.
	Working with employers, The LSC has established Sector Employer Groups in key sectors for the Hertfordshire economy. These are providing employers with a voice for expressing their needs, and a means of communicating with learning providers so that relevant provision is developed and delivered. We are also working with the University of Hertfordshire and the four Hertfordshire Further Education Colleges to increase the number and range of Foundation Degrees offered in the County through the Colleges and the University of Hertfordshire. We expect to have Foundation Degrees in nine subjects available by September 2005.
	I trust this helps with your query.

Education Maintenance Allowance

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teenagers in Leeds West have received the education maintenance allowance; what the average award has been; and how much has been received in total.

Maria Eagle: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council. Mark Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive, will write to the hon. Friend with the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.
	Letter from Mark Haysom to Mr. John Battle, dated 16 June 2005
	I am writing in response to your Parliamentary Question that asked "the number of young people who have received Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) in the Leeds West Area, what the average award has been and how much has been received in total."
	Information on the number of young people who have applied, enrolled and received EMA is available at Local Authority level, but not at constituency level. By the end of May 2005, 5,606 young people in the Leeds Local Authority area had received one or more EMA payments.
	EMA is awarded in three defined payment bands of £30, £20 and £10, depending on household income. In Leeds Local Authority the take-up of EMA by payment band is split as follows: 78% on £30 per week, 10% on £20 per week and 12% on £10 per week (based on an analysis of young people attending a school or college in the Leeds Local Authority area). This breakdown is very similar to the national average.
	We do not break down cost data to show specifically how much is spent in each Local Authority area. The total cost of EMA payments during the academic year 2004/2005 in England at 31 May 2005 was approximately £206,000,000.
	I hope this information is helpful and addresses your question. If you would like further details please contact Chris Bradley at the LSC National Office on 0114 207 4512 or Christopher. bradley@lsc.gov.uk

Paternity Leave

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what plans the Government have to change provisions for paternity leave;
	(2)  what plans the Government have to introduce shared parental leave in the second six months after a child's birth.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government want to give families more choice about how to balance their work and caring responsibilities. The "Work and Families: Choice and Flexibility" consultation sought views on how to enable fathers to share a proportion of the mother's maternity leave and pay. We are currently considering the responses to the consultation and will respond in due course.

Paternity Leave

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research the Government have commissioned on the percentage of fathers who would stay home to look after children if it was financially viable to do so.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I have been asked to reply.
	The DTI part funded the Equal Opportunities Commission's report "Fathers and the First Year" which was published on 16 June 2005. The report indicates that almost 80 per cent. of working fathers surveyed said they would be happy to stay at home and look after their child, but did not provide any information as to whether financial considerations affected that response.

Prison Education

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 15 June 2005, Official Report, column 490W, on prison education, what the targets are for numbers of offenders acquiring Basic Skills Level qualifications beyond (a) entry level, (b) level 1 and (c) level 2; and how many offenders acquired these qualifications in each year since 2002.

Phil Hope: The framework for basic skills qualifications is set out in "Skills for Life", the national strategy for improving adult literacy and numeracy skills. That document contains no basic skills level qualifications beyond level 2 and therefore, as part of our aim to bring offender learning and skills in line with mainstream learning and skills provision, there are no targets for basic skills achievements by offenders in qualifications beyond entry level and levels 1 and 2.

Special Educational Needs/Tribunals

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many special schools there are in Lancashire education authority; and if she will make a statement on the long-term provision of special needs education in Lancashire.

Maria Eagle: "Removing Barriers to Achievement", our SEN strategy, provides a clear long-term vision for improving support and outcomes for children with SEN. It sets out action to ensure that children with SEN receive the help they need as quickly as possible, from schools and other services. The SEN strategy was informed by a review of special schools. Special schools have a vital role teaching children with the most severe and complex needs, and sharing expertise with mainstream schools.
	In January 2005 there were 32 maintained special schools in Lancashire local education authority. The schools are listed as follows.
	
		
			 School number  
		
		
			 119860 Burnley Calder View Special School 
			 119861 Bleasdale House Community Special School 
			 119863 Burnley Westway School 
			 119864 Sherburn School 
			 119865 Moorfield School 
			 119866 Moorbrook School 
			 119869 Massey Hall School 
			 119870 Elms School 
			 119872 Burnley Primrose Hill School 
			 119873 Wennington Hall School 
			 119876 Morecambe Road School 
			 119877 Chorley Astley Park School 
			 119878 Great Arley School 
			 119879 Rawtenstall Cribden House Community  Special School 
			 119880 Lostock Hall Moor Hey School 
			 119881 Colne Gibfield School 
			 119882 North Cliffe School 
			 119883 Oswaldtwistle Broadfield School 
			 119886 Black Moss School 
			 119887 Kirkham Pear Tree School 
			 119889 Mayfield School 
			 119890 Nelson Townhouse School 
			 119891 Tor View School 
			 119892 The Loyne School 
			 119893 The Coppice School 
			 119894 Oswaldtwistle White Ash School 
			 119895 Brookfield School 
			 119897 Thornton-Cleveleys Red Marsh School 
			 119898 Beacon School 
			 131093 Kingsbury School 
			 131479 Hillside School, Longridge 
			 133688 Royal Cross Primary School

Showground (Garstang)

Ben Wallace: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans the Duchy has for a showground near Garstang in Lancashire.

John Hutton: The Duchy of Lancaster office has been investigating the possibility of the former Myerscough Quarry becoming a strategic "rural Gateway" for Lancashire, acting as an interface between rural and urban interests and to diversify the local rural economy. Integral to this is the provision of a regional showground and events facility.
	This is still in the early stages of consultation with local stakeholders.

Credit Card Debt

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he plans to take to tackle the growth in consumer credit card debt.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The UK credit market remains one of the most competitive in the world. Although figures show that borrowing is increasing in real terms, DTI commissioned research indicates that the vast majority of consumers manage their credit successfully, using it as an enabler, and do not become over-indebted.
	The Government is not, however, complacent and a number of departments are working together to ensure that those needing help have access to it. Further details can be found in the "Tackling Over-indebtedness: Action Plan 2004" published July 2004 which is in the Libraries of the House and in the forthcoming 2005 update to be published shortly.

Environmental Guidance (Companies)

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what guidance he has given to UK companies on their responsibilities (a) to report on and (b) to mitigate their impact on (i) communities and (ii) the environment.

Malcolm Wicks: DTI has introduced an Operating and Financial Review which, with effect from financial years beginning on or after 1 April 2005, will require directors of quoted companies to report on the development and performance of their business during the year, and on the key factors likely to affect development and performance in future. In preparing their OFR, directors will need to consider factors such as environment and community issues, insofar as these are relevant for an understanding of the business. The Accounting Standards Board has issued a reporting standard and implementation guidance to help companies prepare their OFR.
	We also encourage companies to address the social and environmental impacts of their activities over and above compliance with minimum legal standards. The Government website on CSR—www.csr.gov.uk—outlines our approach to promoting responsible business practice.

Eurotunnel

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions his Department has had with (a) Eurotunnel (i) staff and (ii) creditors and (b) other Government Departments on Eurotunnel in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Alun Michael: None. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport leads on policy pertaining to Eurotunnel.

Renewable Energy

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures are being taken to encourage the use of renewable energy in Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government's primary support mechanism for renewable energy in the UK is the Renewables Obligation (RO). The RO requires electricity suppliers to obtain an annually increasing percentage of their electricity from renewable source. This is supported by over £500 million in spending on developing emerging renewables and low carbon technologies up to 2008.
	Renew Tees Valley is responsible for planning and delivery of renewable energy projects in the Tees Valley including Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland and is tasked with creating jobs and encouraging inward investment using the medium of renewables and recycling.
	Renew Tees Valley is part of the wider NE regional activity working in partnership with Government Office for the North East, ONE, and the North East Assembly under the auspices of the North East Energy Partnership (NEEP), which takes the lead role in the North East for promoting renewables and for encouraging energy efficiency activities.

Antisocial Behaviour

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders have been breached in each year since their introduction, broken down by (a) the reason for the breach and (b) the punishment given for the breach.

Charles Clarke: During the period 1 June 2000 to 31 December 2003 a total of 1,892 antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) were issued within England and Wales. Of those issued 793 individuals breached their ASBO over this period.
	The table counts all breach occasions during this period. The total given for this is 2,053 and represents breaches by those 793 individuals, indicating that those individuals breached more than once.
	
		Number(2) of occasions an ASBO was breached by year(3) and type of sentence
		
			  Type of sentence 
			 Year of breach Discharge Fine Community sentence Custody(4) Other Total 
		
		
			 2000(3) 0 7 2 8 2 19 
			 2001 7 39 56 100 32 234 
			 2002 26 52 144 230 60 512 
			 2003 60 135 356 626 111 1,288 
			 Total 93 233 558 964 205 2,053 
		
	
	(2) Includes multiple breaches of the same ASBO and covers those ASBOs reported to the Home Office.
	(3) From 1 June 2000. Data for 2004 are not yet available.
	(4) This excludes 10 cases where a fully suspended sentence was given and 29 cases where a sentence of one day in police cells was given. These cases are included in the "Other" column.

Police

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what plans he has to require police forces to adopt as standard the police staff council handbook;
	(2)  how many police forces have fully adopted the pay and conditions set out in the police staff council handbook;
	(3)  what representations he has received from the Association of Chief Police Officers regarding mandatory adoption of the police staff council handbook.

Charles Clarke: In the White Paper: Building Communities, Beating Crime, we commit to developing terms and conditions for police staff that meet the operational requirements of the service and support the delivery of improved performance. We wish to develop terms and conditions of service for police staff which reflect their increasingly important place in policing and the operational nature of many of their roles. We will discuss these proposals in the PSC. However, we want to allow police forces and authorities flexibility where that is necessary to meet local requirements. We do not propose therefore to make the contents of the PSC handbook mandatory.
	Adoption of the terms and conditions of the Police Staff Council (PSC) of England and Wales Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook is by voluntary agreement by individual forces. Forces can take account of the handbook in deciding on the terms and conditions for their staff in the light of force requirements and circumstances. Neither the Home Office nor the Employers Organisation collect information about which of the provisions of the Handbook individual forces have chosen to incorporate in local terms and conditions of service.
	Neither myself, or other Ministers have received any representation from the Association of Chief Police Officers in regards to the mandatory adoption of the Police Staff Council handbook.

Kamel Bourgass

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on which day staff from Porton Down alerted (a) the police and (b) Ministers about the error that had been made in statements issued that ricin had been found in the flat occupied by Kamel Bourgass; and what action was taken by (i) the police and (ii) Ministers when it was found that an error had been made.

Charles Clarke: holding answer 6 June 2005
	An initial test conducted by Dstl Porton Down on 6 January 2003 on an exhibit taken by police from the flat occupied by Kamal Bourgass gave an apparent positive result for ricin. However, confirmatory tests which were conducted throughout the period from 7 January 2003 to 28 January 2003 failed to detect the presence of ricin.
	Ricin was identified and confirmed on 7 January, 2003 in a second exhibit, consisting of 22 castor beans seized from the flat. Nicotine poison was also identified and confirmed. Other materials, specifically mentioned in the poison recipes recovered from the flat were also found including acetone and isopropyl alcohol.
	The Prosecuting Counsel (Mr. Sweeney QC), Crown Prosecution Service, was verbally informed of the ricin test result at a case conference on 20 March, 2003 by Dstl. The Metropolitan Police Anti-Terrorist Branch was also represented at the meeting where the information was provided. The result was also provided in a written statement which was made available to the Crown Prosecution Service and the metropolitan police at that time.
	Further tests on the first exhibit on 27/28 April, 2003 also did not detect ricin.
	We do not have a record of the date this information was passed from the police to the Home Office and subsequently to Ministers.

SitCen

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the role in the EU of SitCen.

Charles Clarke: The EU Joint Situation Centre (SitCen) monitors and assesses events and situations worldwide on a 24-hour basis with a focus on potential crisis regions, terrorism and WMD-proliferation. The SitCen also provides support to the EU High Representative, Special Representatives and other senior officials, as well as for EU crisis management operations.
	The SitCen is divided into three units: the Civilian intelligence Cell (CIC), comprising civilian intelligence analysts working on political and counter-terrorism assessment; the General Operations Unit (GOU), providing 24-hour operational support, research and non-intelligence analysis; and the Communications Unit, handling communications security issues and running the council's communications centre (ComCen).
	This creation of a CT analytical capacity within the CIC, which became active on 1 February 2005, has been the major aspect of SitCen's development since the attacks of 11 March in Madrid. As set out in The Hague multi-annual work programme, the intention is that SitCen furnishes the council with strategic intelligence-based assessments on counter-terrorism matters. An initial six month work programme has been set up to reflect the priorities of Heads of State as set out in the ED Action Plan on terrorism. This cross-pillar work programme incorporates justice and home affairs priorities, as well as those issues highlighted by external policy working groups. As such, it includes for example, assessments on threats to modes of transport; threats to critical national infrastructure targets in EU member states; and an assessment of trends in terrorist financing.
	SitCen's priorities had hitherto largely focused on Common Foreign and Security Policy issues and did not serve to provide the necessary JHA input. With the CT Cell's work programme now reflecting broader EU CT priorities it is intended to add support to current policy areas. This is the principal area where the SitCen CT Cell can contribute to JHA work: strategic intelligence-based assessments on counter-terrorism matters in support of current policy discussions.

Terrorism

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what dates in the last 12 months he has held meetings with the Mayor of London to discuss contingency measures in the event of a terrorist attack on London.

Charles Clarke: The development of contingency plans for London are managed through London Resilience based in the Government office for London. The London Resilience Forum, which meets quarterly, oversees this work and is chaired by my hon. Friend the Minister for London Resilience (Mr. Woolas), with the Mayor of London as the deputy chair. The Minister for London Resilience in turn sits on the Cabinet Committee overseeing resilience work nationally. This is chaired by the Home Secretary.
	Outside this structure Home Office officials work closely with the London Resilience forum and a range of other Departments and agencies to develop the contingency plans for London.

Council Tax Benefit

Stephen Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the amount of council tax benefit that was unclaimed by pensioners in the latest year for which figures are available.

James Plaskitt: The latest available information is in "Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take Up in 2002/2003", a copy of which is in the Library.

Disability Living Allowance

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claims for disability living allowance were (a) made and (b) rejected in each year since 2001, broken down by nation and region.

Anne McGuire: The requested information is not available by nation and region. The information that is available is in the table.
	
		Disability living allowance claims received and refused inGreat Britain from 2001–05
		
			  Number of claims: 
			  Received Refused 
		
		
			 2001 411,990 196,885 
			 2002 427,965 194,605 
			 2003 438,710 215,135 
			 2004 439,095 234,180 
			 2005(5) 176,460 91,365 
		
	
	(5) Figures are for calendar years (January to December) except 2005 which covers January 2005 to May 2005.
	Notes:
	1. Data is taken from the Management Information System (MIS) computer system.
	2. Figures have been rounded to the nearest five.
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre, 100 per cent. data

Home Responsibilities Protection

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has for the reform of home responsibilities protection.

Stephen Timms: Home Responsibilities Protection which was introduced in 1978 ensures that carers, particularly women caring for children, can build up entitlement to a full basic state pension. The Government launched its national debate on 24 February with the publication of "Principles for Reform: The national pensions debate". This set out our guiding principles on which further work would be taken forward. Producing fair outcomes for women and carers is one of these principles.

Housing Benefit

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the cost of housing benefit paid to (a) pensioners, (b) disabled people, (c) lone parents, (d) unemployed people and (e) others, in each of the last eight years, in (i) cash and (ii) real terms.

James Plaskitt: The information is in the tables.
	
		Annual housing benefit expenditure by client group—nominal and real terms £ million, nominal
		
			  1997–98 outturn 1998–99 outturn 1999–2000 outturn 2000–01 outturn 
		
		
			 Housing benefit and discretionary housing payments. 11,176 11,065 11,066 11,166 
			 of which: 
			 People aged 60 and over 3,781 3,843 3,931 4,110 
			 Long-term sick and disabled 1,782 1,966 2,132 2,286 
			 Lone parents 2,614 2,654 2,731 2,648 
			 Short-term sick 406 335 330 342 
			 Others excluding unemployed people 875 851 688 652 
			 Unemployed 1,719 1,417 1,255 1,129 
		
	
	
		
			 £ million, nominal 
			  2001–02 outturn 2002–03 outturn 2003–04 outturn 2004–05 estimated outturn 
		
		
			 Housing benefit and discretionary housing payments 11,590 12,638 12,365 13,052 
			 of which: 
			 People aged 60 and over 4,380 4,730 4,457 4,868 
			 Long-term sick and disabled 2,493 2,945 2,949 3,152 
			 Lone parents 2,666 2,855 2,932 3,048 
			 Short-term sick 338 365 350 329 
			 Others excluding unemployed people 674 668 690 723 
			 Unemployed 1,039 1,075 979 932 
		
	
	
		
			 £ million, 2005–06 prices 
			  1997–98 outturn 1998–99 outturn 1999–2000 outturn 2000–01 outturn 
		
		
			 Housing benefit and discretionary housing payments 13,547 13,037 12,760 12,727 
			 of which: 
			 People aged 60 and over 4,583 4,528 4,532 4,685 
			 Long-term sick and disabled 2,160 2,316 2,458 2,605 
			 Lone parents 3,168 3,127 3,149 3,018 
			 Short-term sick 492 395 380 390 
			 Others excluding unemployed people 1,061 1,003 793 743 
			 Unemployed 2,083 1,669 1,447 1,286 
		
	
	
		
			 £ million, 2005–06 prices 
			  2001–02 outturn 2002–03 outturn 2003–04 outturn 2004–05 estimated outturn 
		
		
			 Housing benefit and discretionary housing payments 12,883 13,582 12,916 13,379 
			 of which: 
			 People aged 60 and over 4,868 5,084 4,659 4,990 
			 Long-term sick and disabled 2,771 3,165 3,082 3,231 
			 Lone parents 2,963 3,068 3,064 3,124 
			 Short-term sick 375 392 366 338 
			 Others excluding unemployed people 750 718 722 741 
			 Unemployed 1,155 1,155 1,023 955 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Totals may not sum due to rounding.
	2. Figures are on a Resource Accounting and Budgeting basis.
	3. Some figures for past years may have changed since previous publications owing to the incorporation of more up-to-date information.
	4. Expenditure for 2004–05 reflects the latest benefit-by-benefit estimate of outturn, and not the amounts voted by Parliament.
	5. Total amounts paid to beneficiaries, irrespective of the source of funding. Includes benefit spending reimbursed by DWP, spending on rent rebates financed within local authorities' Housing Revenue Accounts, and benefit spending financed from local authorities' general funds.
	6. From 2004–05 the figures shown take into account the transfer of responsibility of The Rent Service to DWP.
	7. Real terms have been calculated using gross domestic product deflators updated after the Budget Report of 16 March 2005.
	Source:
	DWP Income-related benefit expenditure tables; table 7.

Housing Benefit

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of tenants receiving housing benefit in (a) the deregulated private sector, (b) the regulated private sector and (c) registered social landlord accommodation are (i) pensioners, (ii) disabled, (iii) lone parents, (iv) unemployed and (v) others.

James Plaskitt: The information is in the table.
	
		Proportion of housing benefit recipients in each client group with deregulated, regulated and registered social landlord (RSL) tenancies, Great Britain—May 2003 Percentage
		
			   Aged under 60 
			  Aged 60 or over Disabled Lone parents Unemployed Others 
		
		
			 Deregulated 18.8 26.0 27.1 12.6 15.4 
			 Regulated 81.6 9.9 2.7 2.2 3.6 
			 RSL 42.1 23.1 21.6 5.2 8.1 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are based on a 1 per cent. sample and subject to a degree of sampling variation.
	2. The data refers to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple.
	3. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place and may not sum due to rounding.
	4. Housing benefit figures exclude any Extended Payment cases.
	5. "Aged 60 or over" are cases where the claimant and/or partner are aged 60 or over.
	6. "Disabled" are cases where the claimant and partner are aged under 60 and in receipt of a disability premium.
	7. "Lone parents" are single claimants aged under 60, with a dependent, and not in receipt of a disability premium.
	8. "Unemployed" are cases where the claimant and partner are aged under 60, and one is in receipt of income based or contribution based jobseeker's allowance, not on a Government training scheme and not in receipt of a disability premium.
	9. "Others" are cases not falling into any of the categories shown.
	Source:
	Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System, Annual 1 per cent. sample, taken in May 2003.

National Insurance Contracted-out Rebate

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have received the national insurance contracted-out rebate; and what the (a) total value of the rebate and (b) the average value per person of the rebate has been in each of the last five years.

James Plaskitt: The information is in the table:
	
		Great Britain
		
			  Number of people  who received the contracted-out rebate (million) Total value  (£ billion) Average value (£) 
		
		
			 2004–05 10.5 10.3 980 
			 2003–04 10.7 10.1 940 
			 2002–03 11.1 10.4 940 
			 2001–02 11.1 9.0 810 
			 2000–01 11.1 8.7 780 
		
	
	Notes:
	(a) Numbers of people contracted out are rounded to 100,000, "Total Value" amounts are rounded to £100 million and "Average Value" amounts are rounded to £10.
	(b) Estimates are for Great Britain only, not UK, and are consistent with Budget 2005 projections.
	(c) Estimates of the number of people contracted out are based on the average numbers contracted out in any week earning above the Lower Earnings Limit and not on the total numbers contracted out during the year.
	(d) The "Total Value" .of the rebate includes rebates to all Contracted-out Salary Relate Schemes, Contracted-out Money Purchase Schemes and Appropriate Personal Pension Schemes and Stakeholder Schemes. It also includes the cost of the employer's share of the rebate.
	(e) Figures up to and including 2001–02 are based on published data on the numbers of people contracted out. Figures for 2002–03 to 2004–05 are based on estimates of the number of people contracted out.
	Source:
	Government Actuary's Department

Pension Commission

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the consultation on the findings of the Pension Commission will be completed.

Stephen Timms: The Pension Commission's consultation on issues raised in its first report "Pensions; Challenges and Choices" ended 31 January 2005. The Commission is expected to publish its Final Report before the end of 2005.
	We want to build a national consensus on a long-term solution to adequate income in retirement. We intend to ensure that the widest possible dialogue takes place prior to and beyond the publication of the Pensions Commission report as part of our National Pensions Debate.

Pension Credit

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Islington (a) received state pension, (b) applied for pension credit and (c) received pension credit in each of the last three years; and what the average pension credit payment was in each year.

Stephen Timms: Information on the number of people in receipt of State Pension and Pension Credit in the local authority area of Islington, and average awards, is set out in the following two tables. Information on the number of people who have applied for or are eligible for Pension Credit is not available in respect of individual local authority areas or constituencies.
	
		Table 1: State pension claimants, Islington local authority area, September 2002 to September 2004
		
			  Claimants Average award (£) 
		
		
			 2002 19,400 79.03 
			 2003 18,500 81.03 
			 2004 19,300 82.96 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Numbers of claimants are rounded to the nearest100.
	2. Numbers of claimants are based on a 5 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation.
	3. Local authorities are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.
	Source:
	Information Directorate, Department for Work and Pensions, 5 per cent. sample
	
		Table 2: Pension credit recipients, Islington local authority area, December 2003 to March 2005
		
			  Households Individuals Average award (£) 
		
		
			 December 2003 7,830 9,100 64.92 
			 December 2004 8,985 10,460 62.50 
			 March 2005 9,145 10,640 62.17 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Number of households and individuals are rounded to the nearest 5.
	2. Figures relate to the end of the month.
	3. Individuals comprise claimants and partners and may contain a small number of partners aged under 60.
	4. Pension credit replaced minimum income guarantee from 6 October 2003.
	5. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS directory.
	6. The figures for March 2005 are the latest available.
	Source:
	Information Directorate, Department for Work and Pensions, 100 per cent. sample

Pensions (Equality)

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Coventry, South (a) received state pension, (b) applied for pension credit and (c) received pension credit in each of the last three years; and what the average pension credit payment was in each year.

Stephen Timms: Information on the number of people in receipt of state pension and pension credit in Coventry, South, and average awards, is set out in the following two tables. Information on the number of people who have applied for or are eligible for pension credit is not available in respect of individual constituencies.
	
		Table 1: State pension recipients, Coventry, South,September 2002 to September 2004
		
			 Date Recipients Average award (£) 
		
		
			 September 2002 16,200 80.30 
			 September 2003 16,400 83.82 
			 September 2004 16,700 86.10 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Numbers of recipients are rounded to the nearest hundred.
	2. Numbers of recipients are based on a 5 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation.
	3. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.
	Source:
	Information Directorate, Department for Work and Pensions, 5 per cent. sample
	
		Table 2: Pension credit recipients, Coventry, South,December 2003 to March 2005
		
			 Date Households Individuals Average award (£) 
		
		
			 December 2003 3,895 4,580 46.57 
			 December 2004 4,690 5,575 44.55 
			 March 2005 4,805 5,715 44.10 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Numbers of households and individuals are rounded to the nearest 5.
	2. Figures relate to the end of the month.
	3. Individuals comprise claimants and partners and may contain a small number of partners aged under 60.
	4. Pension credit replaced minimum income guarantee from 6 October 2003.
	5. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS directory.
	6. The figures for March 2005 are the latest available.
	Source:
	Information Directorate, Department for Work and Pensions, 100 per cent. sample

Winter Heating Allowance

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the cost of (a) the winter heating allowance and (b) means-tested benefits for pensioners over (i) 65, (ii) 67, (iii) 70 and (iv) 75 years, in (A) 2005–06, (B) 2010–11, (C) 2020–21, (D) 2030–31, (E) 2040–41 and (F) 2050–51 assuming the uprating of such allowances and benefits is continued on the same basis as that announced for the current year and the basic state pension is uprated on the same basis as announced for 2005–06.

Stephen Timms: The expenditure figures are given in the following table.
	
		
			  2005–06 2010–11 2020–21 2030–31 2040–41 2050–51 
		
		
			 Age 65 and over   
			 Winter Fuel Payments 1,600 950 900 800 700 550 
			 Pension Credit 5,400 7,950 12,500 19,650 28,850 39,000 
			 Housing Benefits 6,100 6,800 8,850 11,500 14,350 16,700 
			
			 Age 67 and over   
			 Winter Fuel Payments 1,450 850 800 750 650 500 
			 Pension Credit 4,950 7,300 11,600 18,250 27,250 36,800 
			 Housing Benefits 5,550 6,150 8,100 10,500 13,400 15,450 
			
			 Age 70 and over   
			 Winter Fuel Payments 1,250 700 700 600 550 450 
			 Pension Credit 4,300 6,500 10,300 16,350 24,700 33,800 
			 Housing Benefits 4,800 5,350 7,000 9,100 11,750 13,800 
			
			 Age 75 and over   
			 Winter Fuel Payments 900 500 450 450 400 350 
			 Pension Credit 3,350 5,050 7,900 13,150 20,050 28,550 
			 Housing Benefits 3,500 4,250 5,100 6,850 8,900 11,000 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. All expenditure is in current (2005–06) prices and represents UK expenditure. Expenditure expressed in £ million, rounded to the nearest £50 million.
	2. The expenditure given for winter fuel payment does not include one-off age-related payments.
	3. In 2005–06 the winter fuel payment per household where householder(s) are up to age 79 is £200. For those 80 years and over this is £300. These allowances are reduced to £150 for all households after 2005–06.
	4. After 2005–06 the winter fuel payment is a fixed annual payment of £150 in cash terms. As a result—despite increases in the 65+ population between 2005–06 and 2050–51—there is a downwards trend in expenditure when quoted in current prices.
	5. Housing benefits include both housing benefit and council tax.
	6. All uprating assumptions used are consistent with Budget 2005 published forecasts.
	Source:
	DWP forecasting models, consistent with Budget 2005.

Bus Services

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make provision for sector tendering for bus services outside London.

Karen Buck: If by "sector tendering" the hon. Member means the tendering of bus services by a local transport authority over a substantial area, giving the successful tenderer exclusive right to operate in that area, it is possible to do this through a quality contracts scheme under the Transport Act 2000. Such a scheme must be approved by the Secretary of State (or in Wales, the National Assembly for Wales), who must be satisfied that it is the only practicable way of implementing the authority's bus policies and will do so in a way that is economic, efficient and effective.
	The Future of Transport White Paper (Cm 6234, July 2004) encouraged the development of combined packages of bus enhancement measures, probably through quality contracts, and measures to reduce traffic congestion.
	The Department has issued guidance to English local authorities on applications for approval of quality contracts schemes.

M3

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when noise levels between Junction 5 and 7 on the M3 were last monitored; and whether there have been changes in the noise levels over time.

Stephen Ladyman: To calculate road traffic noise levels, the Department uses a model set out in the technical memorandum "Calculation of Road Traffic Noise" rather than roadside noise monitoring, which is subject to variables such as the weather and changing traffic conditions.
	Roadside noise levels have not therefore been monitored on the M3 between Junctions 5 and 7. However, assessments have been made using the traffic noise model. Calculations indicate that the level of traffic noise between M3 Junctions 5 and 7 is likely to have increased by around 4.5dB over the last 20 years.

Ports

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  if he will issue guidelines for the ports industry on preparing proposals to increase port capacity;
	(2)  if he will establish a sequential test for ports planning which takes into account (a) environmental sustainability, (b) regeneration and (c) the impact on the local economy of port development;
	(3)  what plans he has to integrate port development into a sustainable transport strategy for the UK;
	(4)  what his latest estimate is of how much additional port capacity will be required in the UK over the next (a) five, (b) 10 and (c) 15 years;
	(5)  what assessment he has made of comparative (a) environmental impact and (b) impact on productivity of port expansion proposals.

Stephen Ladyman: The forthcoming review of ports policy will address questions around port capacity and future port development. As part of the preparatory work for the review, the Department has commissioned consultants to produce national port traffic forecasts for Great Britain through to 2030. These forecasts will be disaggregated by region and traffic type, and will be published as part of the review.
	The Department issued guidance on new port developments in April 2003. "A Project Appraisal Framework for Ports" aims to assist promoters of, those affected by, and others who may wish to make representations about, port developments. In arriving at decisions on these developments, the factors that have been considered will be made clear at the time those decisions are made.
	The review will also look at wider issues, including environmental factors, local regeneration, productivity, and the role of ports in our overall transport strategy.

Railways

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many community rail line designations have been made so far.

Alistair Darling: Three lines have been designated as community rail lines. These are the routes from Watford Junction to St. Albans Abbey (the Abbey line); Middlesbrough to Whitby (the Esk Valley line); and St. Ives to St. Erth (the St. Ives Bay line).

Road Charging Research

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he commissioned his research on road charging; what the cost was of the research; whether he announced the commissioning of the research at the time it was commissioned; when he made his decisions about the use that would be made of the research; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, announced in a statement to the House on 9 July 2003 a feasibility study into the potential for road pricing in the UK. The Feasibility Study of Road Pricing in the UK was published by the Department for Transport in July 2004.
	The total cost of road pricing research contracts issued between the announcement and publication of the feasibility study was £1,072,838 including VAT.
	In line with its manifesto commitment, the Government are examining the potential of moving away from the current system of motoring taxation towards a national system of road pricing. Further research will be undertaken in due course.

Road Pricing

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will allow a reduced rate for people with disabilities as part of his proposed road pricing system.

Stephen Ladyman: In line with its manifesto commitments, the Government are examining the potential of moving away from the current system of motoring taxation towards a national system of road pricing. The issue of exemptions and discounts for people with restricted mobility would need careful consideration in any scheme design.

Road Pricing

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set up his proposed road pricing system to charge more to more heavily polluting vehicles and less to vehicles with a lower environmental impact.

Stephen Ladyman: In line with its manifesto commitments, the Government are examining the potential of moving away from the current system of motoring taxation towards a national system of road pricing. For any road pricing scheme developed, we would ensure that incentives for cleaner vehicles are safeguarded in order to contribute to meeting our environmental targets.

Road Pricing

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how the proposed pilot schemes for road pricing will operate; when he expects the first pilot scheme to become operational; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: As our manifesto promised, the Government are examining the potential of moving away from the current system of motoring taxation towards a national system of road pricing. Although there would need to be one or more pilots for a future national road pricing scheme, no decisions have been made about the timing, nature or location of any such pilots. The "Future of Transport" White Paper (July 2004) announced our intention to establish a Transport Innovation Fund to give incentives to develop and deploy innovative local transport packages, support innovative mechanisms which raise alternative funding mechanisms and support the funding of regional, inter-regional and local schemes that are beneficial to national productivity. Further details on the aims and operation of the Fund will be published shortly.
	However, the Secretary of State has confirmed that ultimately up to £200 million a year will be made available from the Fund to support local authorities implementing innovative solutions to congestion problems in their local areas where these include demand management based on pricing.

Safety Cameras

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many accidents involving (a) injuries and (b) loss of life (i) have taken place in each year since the installation of speed cameras and (ii) took place in the year before the installation of speed cameras at the site of each fixed speed camera in the Stroud constituency.

Stephen Ladyman: The information requested is not held centrally, but the Gloucestershire Safety Camera Partnership has provided the information shown in the attached table on the numbers of personal injury collisions ("PICs"), and the number involving fatalities, before and after the setting up of the camera sites.
	The Gloucestershire Safety Camera Partnership can be contacted via their website at www.glossafetycameras.org.uk.
	
		Fixed speed cameras in Stroud constituency—number of personal injury collisions (PICs), including collisions involving fatalities,before and after setting-up of sites
		
			  Camera site 
			  A38 Cambridge A4135 Dursley A419 Caincross (in) A419 Caincross (out) A38 Whitminster 
		
		
			 Collisions before setting up   
			 3 years (7)5 (8)2 (9)1 0 (8)4 
			 2 years 0 (8)2 (9)2 0 (9)1 
			 1 year 0 (9)4 (9)1 0 (9)5 
			   
			 Date set up 1 April 1997 1 November 2001 1 May 1995 1 May 1995 1 March 1997 
			   
			 Collisions after setting up   
			 1 year 0 (9)2 (9)2 (9)1 (9)1 
			 2 years (9)3 (9)2 0 (9)1 (9)1 
			 3 years (9)1 (9)1 (9)1 (9)1 (9)1 
			 4 years (9)1 — (9)2 (9)1 (9)1 
			 5 years 0 — (9)1 0 (9)2 
			 6 years (9)1 — 0 (9)5 (9)1 
			 7 years (9)3 — (9)1 (9)1 (9)3 
			 8 years — — (9)1 (9)1 (9)2 
			 9 years — — (9)2 (9)1 — 
			 10 years — — (9)2 (9)1 — 
		
	
	(7) Including 1 fatal collision
	(8) Including 1 fatal
	(9) 0 fatal

Safety Cameras

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many speed cameras are installed on roads.

Alistair Darling: The latest information, as held by the Department was provided in the answer of 9 June 2005, Official Report, columns 617–19W. Further details of all sites within the safety camera programme are available on the Department's website at www.dft.gov.uk.

Shellhaven London Gateway

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those individuals and bodies that have submitted additional evidence and comments on the proposed Shellhaven London gateway port public inquiry following his extension of the inquiry in 2005.

Stephen Ladyman: The Secretary of State extended in January 2005 the period given for the receipt of representations on the new highways evidence submitted by the Applicant. There was no extension of the public inquiry itself.
	The Secretary of State received representations and comments during the consultation period, in the extension period and after the end of the extension period from individuals and organisations as listed. In some cases the parties' comments were reiterations of their previous evidence rather than submission of any additional evidence.
	Bob Spink MP
	The Highways Agency
	Thurrock Council
	Essex County Council
	The Strategic Rail Authority
	The Port of Tilbury Ltd.
	Shellhaven Project Environmental Action Committee
	Essex Police
	Council for the Protection of Rural Essex
	Thurrock Primary Care Trust
	Ramblers' Association (Essex)
	Representations were also received from two individual local residents.

Iran

Ian Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment the UK embassy in Iran has made of Iranian Government policy towards Bahá'ís; what assessment he has made of whether the policies set out in the 1991 memorandum entitled The Bahá'í Question, drafted by the Revolutionary Cultural Council of Iran remain official Government policy in Iran; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: We are not aware that the Iranian authorities have acknowledged the authenticity of the 1991 memorandum, nor commented in detail on current policy towards the Bahá'ís. The Bahá'ís are the largest non-Muslim religious group in Iran, yet unlike Christians, Jews and Zoroastrians, are not recognised in Iran's constitution. Members of the Bahá'í community have suffered intimidation and harassment, had property confiscated and been denied access to education and employment, apparently on account of their faith. A number of Bahá'í sites have been demolished, organisers of Bahá'í community activities have reportedly been harassed and the Bahá'í faith has been denigrated in the state-owned media. Many of these acts appear to have been carried out by, or with the support or acquiescence of, the Iranian authorities.
	We have raised our concerns about the situation of the Bahá'ís in Iran with the Iranian authorities on many occasions, and will continue to do so, bilaterally and with our European Union partners.

Taliban

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in the search for (a) al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and (b) Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: holding answer 23 June 2005
	For reasons, which the hon. Member will understand, we do not comment on operational matters. As demonstrated by the recent arrest in Pakistan of Abu Faraj Al Libi, significant progress is being made against the senior leadership of al-Qaeda and senior Taliban allies.

HM Revenue and Customs (Chairman)

Roger Gale: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will request the resignation of the chairman of HM Revenue and Customs following the publication of the Adjudicator's Annual report.

Dawn Primarolo: No. As I said in my written statement of 26 May I have agreed with the chairman of HMRC six measures to improve the administration of tax credits. HMRC are now working to deliver these measures.

Hot Weather Fatalities

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many excess deaths were ascribed to hot weather in each year since 1980, broken down by age.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Steve Webb, dated 27 June 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many excess deaths were ascribed to hot weather in each year since 1980, broken down by age. (6565)
	Death rates in England and Wales vary seasonally, being lower in summer than in the winter months. However, analyses of urban populations indicates that all-cause mortality rises during heatwaves. In most summers, temperatures do not get high enough to raise mortality from the usual seasonal low. The main exceptions in recent years were 1995 and 2003. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has carried out special analysis into excess deaths during the 1995 and 2003 heatwaves. The analysis of the 1995 heatwave, published in the "Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health" in February 1998, found that there were an estimated 619 extra deaths in England and Wales between 30 July and 3 August compared to the expected number of deaths based on the 31-day moving average for that period. The analysis found that excess deaths were apparent in all age-groups. The analysis of the 2003 heatwave, published in "Health Statistics Quarterly 25" in February 2005, found that there were 2,091 excess deaths in England between 4 and 13 August compared to the average for the same period in the previous five years. The analysis found that the elderly (aged 75 and over) were most affected by the heatwave.

Illicit Market Share

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the illicit market share for (a) cigarettes, (b) spirits and (c) oils in each of the last five years for which information is available; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: Estimates of the illicit market share for the latest four years for which data are available for spirits, cigarettes and oils are given, respectively, in tables 3.3, 3.9 and 3.14 of the "Measuring and Tackling Indirect Tax Losses" document published by HM Customs and Excise alongside the pre-Budget report in December 2004. This is available from the House of Commons Library.
	Earlier years estimates for cigarettes and oils can be found in chapter 4 of the "Measuring and Tackling Indirect Tax Losses" document published in December 2003. There are no comparable estimates for spirits prior to 1999–2000 due to improvements in data and methodology.

Methadone Deaths

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many deaths in the UK were wholly or partly attributed to methadone in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Fabian Hamilton, dated 27 June 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many deaths in the UK were wholly or partly attributed to methadone in the last 12 months for which figures are available. (6964).
	Available figures relate to the number of deaths from drug-related poisoning where methadone was mentioned on the death certificate. The most recently available information for all the countries of the United Kingdom is for deaths in 2003. It is not possible to identify from death certificates which substance was the primary cause when more than one was involved. Figures related to the number of deaths where methadone was mentioned on the death certificate, either alone or with other substances, are shown in the table below.
	
		Number of deaths from drug-related poisoning(12) where methadone was mentioned on the death certificate, United Kingdom, 2003 2
		
			  Number of deaths 
		
		
			 Methadone:  
			 Mentioned alone(14) 83 
			 Total mentions 264 
		
	
	(12) Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes F11-F16, F18-F19, X40-X44, X60-X64, X85 and Y10-Y14.
	(13) Data are for deaths occurring in the calendar year for England and Wales, and for deaths registered in the calendar year for Scotland and Northern Ireland.
	(14) Methadone is the only drug mentioned on the death certificate.

Public Procurement Directive

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 9 June 2005, Official Report, columns 683–84W, on the Public Procurement Directive, if he will list those who responded to the consultation; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the responses which referred to Article 45 of EU Procurement Directive 2004/18/EC.

John Healey: The Office of Government Commerce (OGC) received 255 responses from a wide range of organisations following the 2004 consultation exercise on the new Public Procurement Directive (2004/18/EC). These included Government Departments, local authorities, law firms, suppliers, trade unions and other interested parties. A summary of these responses is available on the OGC website: http://www.ogc.gov.uk/index.asp?docid=1002407, and the list of respondents, excluding those who requested confidentiality, is included in alphabetical order as follows:
	Allen and Overy
	Association of British Healthcare Industries
	(Employee of) Bristol City Council
	British Telecom
	Cap Gemini
	Commission for Racial Equality
	Criminal Justice Information Technology
	Construction Employers Federation
	Construction Federation
	Customs and Excise
	Defence Procurement Agency
	(Employee of) Denton Wilde Sapte
	Department for Constitutional Affairs
	Department for International Development
	Department for Trade and Industry
	Department for transport
	Department for Works and Pensions
	Disability Rights Commission
	Equal Opportunities Commission
	Ex Remploy Director
	Furniture Industry Strategy Group
	GMP
	HM Treasury
	Home Office
	IDeA
	Inland Revenue
	Isle of Wight Sheltered Workshop
	ISTC—the Community Union
	Loughborough University
	Millstream Associates Ltd
	Nabarro Nathanson
	National Association of Supported Employment
	National Audit Office
	National Housing Federation
	NHS PASA
	Northern Ireland
	ODPM
	OGC
	OGC Buying Solutions
	Peacocks Medical Group
	Remploy
	Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors
	Royal National Institute for the Blind
	Small Business Service
	Solicitors in Local Government
	Treasury Solicitors
	TUC
	Ulster Supported Employment Ltd
	Unison
	Warwickshire City Council
	Wates
	Welsh Purchasing Consortium
	As part of this consultation, OGC asked recipients to consider several key areas. These included Article 45, which concerns the mandatory exclusion of suppliers convicted of certain offences from public contracts. Copies of the consultation responses that specifically mentioned Article 45 have been placed in the Library. Copies of all other responses will be placed in the Library shortly.
	In some cases there was more than one response from organisations. In particular, there were many responses from Remploy and its employees.

Public Procurement Directive

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the record of discussions and correspondence between the Office of Government Commerce and the Criminal Records Bureau about implementation of Article 45 of the EU Procurement Directive 2004/18/EC.

John Healey: The Office of Government Commerce (OGC) is considering with the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) how best to implement Article 45, a I said in my written answer to the hon. Gentleman on 9 June 2005, Official Report, columns 682–83WA. It would not be appropriate to make available the record of discussions and correspondence between OGC and CRB. Doing so would inhibit the formulation and development of Government policy, a process which is currently on-going.

Public Procurement Directive

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Office of Government Commerce has had further discussions with the private and public sectors about Article 45 of the new EU public procurement Directive 2004/18/EC since the consultation exercise was undertaken in 2004.

John Healey: Since the 2004 consultation exercise, the implementation of the new EU public procurement Directive has been, and will continue to be, discussed in numerous seminars, conferences and meetings involving the Office of Government Commerce (OGC). These occasions are normally requested and arranged by other interested parties, including other Government departments, the devolved administrations, local authorities and the wider public sector, the legal community, suppliers and NGOs, and are separate from OGC's formal consultation process. Article 45 often features in such discussions, along with all other main provisions of the new Directive. On 20 June 2005 OGC began a further 12-week consultation on the draft Regulations implementing the Directive, including Article 45. OGC is in discussion with the Criminal Records Bureau on the practical implementation of this Article.

Regional Gross Domestic Product

David Maclean: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to ensure that the treatment of (a) extra-regio gross domestic product and (b) financial and investment services in Eurostat statistics for regional gross domestic product do not disadvantage UK regions with regard to the allocation of European regional aid funds.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. David Maclean, dated 27 June 2005
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question on what steps are being taken to ensure that the treatment of (a) extra-regio gross domestic product and (b) financial and investment services in Eurostat statistics do not disadvantage UK regions with regard to the allocation of European regional aid funds. (6125)
	My responsibility is to ensure that proper statistical processes are followed, and that the statistics are the best that can be devised. To this end I have written to the Director General of Eurostat (Mr Hanreich) twice this year to express my concern at the approach adopted in the calculation of Regional GDP per capita. I have questioned the treatment of both Extra-Regio and FISIM (Financial Intermediation Services Indirectly Measured).
	I last wrote to Mr Hanreich on 3 June and have yet to receive a reply.

Affordable Housing

Desmond Turner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many affordable housing units built or procured through (a) the Housing Corporation Approved Development Programme and (b) the Challenge Fund were (i) mixed funded social rented housing, (ii) temporary social rented housing, (iii) Homebuy general market purchase, (iv) Homebuy general new build, (v) mixed funded low cost home ownership for sale, (vi) miscellaneous works to RSL stock, (vii) reimprovements to rented RSL stock, (viii) works only rehabilitation of rented RSL stock, (ix) works only rehabilitation of RSL stock for sale, (x) intermediate rent for key workers, (xi) Homebuy market purchase for key workers, (xii) Homebuy new build for key workers, (xiii) mixed funded sale for key workers and (xiv) starter home initiative in the South East Region in each year since 1997–98; and how much was spent on each category in each year.

Yvette Cooper: The following tables show the number of homes built or acquired and funding provided through the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme (ADP), Challenge Fund and the Starter Home Initiative in the South East region for the categories (i) to (xiv) for each year since 1997–98.
	Funding and completions are not directly comparable, as funding will relate to projects running, not necessarily units completed, in any one year.
	
		Numbers of homes built or acquired in the South East region
		
			   1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 ADP 
			 (i) Mixed funded rent 3,540 3,231 2,304 2,145 2,450 2,488 2,236 1,942 
			 (ii) Temporary social housing 259 268 162 106 130 46 46 44 
			 (iii) Homebuy Market Purchase — — 133 187 314 356 396 222 
			 (iv) Homebuy New Build — — — — — — — 9 
			 (v) Mixed funded sale 359 578 202 430 305 467 647 807 
			 (vi) Miscellaneous works n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 (vii) Re-improvements rent n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 (viii) Works Only rehabilitation n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 (ix) Re-improvements sale n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 (x) Intermediate rent for key workers n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 871 
			 (xi) Homebuy Market Purchase for key workers n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1,319 
			 (xii) Homebuy New Build for key workers n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 17 
			 (xiii) Mixed funded sale for key workers n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 355 
			   
			 Challenge Fund   
			 (i) Mixed funded rent n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 323 710 
			 (iii) Homebuy Market Purchase n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 29 111 
			 (v) Mixed funded sale n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 273 520 
			  Intermediate Rent n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 62 137 
			   
			 (xiv) Starter Home Initiative n/a n/a n/a n/a 68 893 2,368 188 
		
	
	Miscellaneous works, re-improvements to rented RSL stock, works only rehabilitation of rented RSL stock and works only rehabilitation of RSL stock for sale are not recorded as completed dwellings as they may have previously received funding and would therefore be double counted.
	The information in the table does not include all programmes that the ADP is used for and therefore does not represent the total funding for the South East region. Other categories with funding during the period covered by the table are Right to Acquire, Voluntary Purchase Grant, Do-It-Yourself Shared Ownership, and Temporary Intermediate and Market Rent Housing.
	
		Expenditure in the South East region through ADP, Challenge Fund and Starter Home Initiative for the listed categories £ million
		
			   1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 ADP 
			 (i) Mixed funded rent 54.37 43.65 54.73 61.92 70.85 85.22 149.25 145.11 
			 (ii) Temporary social housing 2.84 2.61 2.20 1.68 1.64 0.98 1.15 0.48 
			 (iii) Homebuy Market Purchase 0.00 0.00 2.93 4.45 9.06 11.78 14.11 9.20 
			 (iv) Homebuy New Build 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.32 
			 (v) Mixed funded sale 2.60 2.55 6.20 5.16 6.53 11.57 20.08 28.27 
			 (vi) Miscellaneous works 6.26 3.10 1.53 1.66 2.25 1.52 2.62 2.33 
			 (vii) Re-improvements rent 0.72 0.91 1.03 1.31 1.07 0.82 0.97 1.42 
			 (viii) Works Only rehabilitation 0.42 0.16 0.91 0.28 1.61 0.98 1.63 1.53 
			 (ix) Re-improvements sale 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.17 
			 (x) Intermediate rent for key workers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 15.51 
			 (xi) Homebuy Market Purchase for key workers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 47.30 
			 (xii) Homebuy New Build for key workers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.76 
			 (xiii) Mixed funded sale for key workers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 24.35 
			 Challenge Fund   
			 (i) Mixed funded rent 0 0 0 0 0 0 64.59 14.55 
			 (iii) Homebuy Market Purchase 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.86 0.45 
			 (v) Mixed funded sale 0 0 0 0 0 0 36.76 2.98 
			  Intermediate Rent 0 0 0 0 0 0 8.30 0.05 
			   
			 (xiv) Starter Home Initiative 0 0 0 0 1.65 20.65 58.21 4.64 
		
	
	Source:
	Housing Corporation

Departmental Relocation

Roger Gale: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many of his Office's posts (a) have been relocated and (b) are under consideration for relocation from London to the deprived areas of the South East.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Non Departmental Public Bodies and Agencies are implementing the Lyons Review recommendations to relocate posts out of London headquarters by 2010. The target of relocating 240 post was agreed in SR04.
	103 posts have already been relocated to the areas set out as follows:
	
		
			 Location Number of Posts Moved 
		
		
			 GO North East 4 
			 GO North West 18 
			 GO Yorkshire and Humberside 8 
			 GO West Midlands 5 
			 GO East Midlands 18 
			 GO East 18 
			 GO South East 4 
			 GO South West 7 
			 GO London 8 
			 Hastings 2 
			 Hemel Hempstead 4 
			 Glossop 7 
			 Total number of posts moved 103 
		
	
	With this progress so far, we are confident that we can meet the target of 240 by 2010. This will not exclude consideration of relocating some posts to relatively deprived areas in the South East.

Disabled Facilities Grants

John Mann: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what plans the Government have to reform the Disabled Facilities Grant for (a) disabled children and (b) disabled adults;
	(2)  when he plans to publish the conclusions of the review of the Disabled Facilities Grant; what research has been commissioned as part of the review; and whether the research will be made public.

Yvette Cooper: The Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) is currently the subject of a wide ranging interdepartmental review. As part of this a team from Bristol University are looking at the operation of the DFG system including the means test. Any proposals for change, as well as research and evidence will be published in due course.

Fire Emergency Calls

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) genuine and (b) malicious false alarm fire emergency calls have been received in (i) inner and (ii) Greater London in each year since 1999.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Information provided by the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA) showing the number of false fire alarms attended by the London Fire Brigade since 1999 is set out in the following table. Genuine false alarms are those generated by automatic equipment and by people believing that there was a fire (good intent).
	
		Types of fire false alarm attended by London Fire Brigade
		
			  1999–2000 2000–01 
			 Borough Automatic fire alarm Good intent Malicious Automatic fire alarm Good intent Malicious 
		
		
			 Inner London 27,467 7,063 6,870 29,333 7,182 6,255 
			 Camden 3,446 621 414 3,682 565 331 
			 City of London 936 89 27 1,014 100 26 
			 Hackney 1,524 633 759 1,645 610 619 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 1,446 343 229 1,535 340 253 
			 Haringey 1,256 441 532 1,297 429 455 
			 Islington 1,606 527 515 1,726 504 512 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 2,169 334 136 2,145 374 189 
			 Lambeth 1,618 630 496 1,662 641 469 
			 Lewisham 1,400 521 631 1,486 449 403 
			 Newham 1,054 557 915 1,029 607 914 
			 Southwark 1,854 602 539 1,902 694 596 
			 Tower Hamlets 2,205 617 776 2,332 703 747 
			 Wandsworth 1,739 401 332 1,725 421 266 
			 Westminster 5,214 747 569 6,153 745 475 
			
			 Outer London 19,328 6,734 5,517 19,321 6,651 5,015 
			 Barking and Dagenham 319 360 449 298 427 368 
			 Barnet 1,431 496 261 1,306 520 293 
			 Bexley 676 323 275 695 262 230 
			 Brent 1,263 411 429 1,312 380 482 
			 Bromley 903 384 301 905 441 256 
			 Croydon 1,065 446 386 1,138 434 352 
			 Ealing 1,490 466 380 1,420 444 347 
			 Enfield 1,059 448 387 1,302 389 337 
			 Greenwich 697 528 550 792 531 482 
			 Harrow 715 197 132 791 219 128 
			 Havering 739 286 156 536 284 163 
			 Hillingdon 2,875 485 369 2,788 481 242 
			 Hounslow 1,063 427 327 994 408 311 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames 1,029 176 148 1,151 162 92 
			 Merton 667 257 168 662 251 146 
			 Redbridge 799 305 230 741 316 209 
			 Richmond-upon-Thames 934 220 66 894 202 82 
			 Sutton 801 170 112 756 155 109 
			 Waltham Forest 803 349 391 840 345 386 
			 Borough not known 1,033 223 100 537 109 100 
			 Total 47,828 14,020 12,487 49,191 13,942 11,370 
		
	
	
		
			  2001–02 2002–03 
			 Borough Automatic fire alarm Good intent Malicious Automatic fire alarm Good intent Malicious 
		
		
			 Inner London 30,281 7,800 6,577 29,505 7,559 5,615 
			 Camden 4,039 669 431 3,716 616 311 
			 City of London 1,097 110 33 992 99 19 
			 Hackney 1,669 708 613 1,714 663 488 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 1,614 324 195 1,623 364 176 
			 Haringey 1,395 468 526 1,431 481 584 
			 Islington 1,585 563 404 1,717 494 392 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 2,246 381 225 2,156 341 155 
			 Lambeth 1,827 647 491 1,594 614 431 
			 Lewisham 1,649 505 470 1,353 524 314 
			 Newham 1,029 691 939 1,125 642 805 
			 Southwark 1,841 763 603 1,819 733 507 
			 Tower Hamlets 2,238 796 842 2,174 793 773 
			 Wandsworth 1,729 428 325 1,794 410 241 
			 Westminster 6,323 747 480 6,297 785 419 
			
			 Outer London 20,454 7,494 5,594 19,644 6,976 4,378 
			 Barking and Dagenham 303 509 397 420 428 325 
			 Barnet 1,393 465 310 1,327 452 246 
			 Bexley 755 344 197 690 319 170 
			 Brent 1,273 403 379 1,191 407 376 
			 Bromley 1,006 436 252 901 387 182 
			 Croydon 1,134 530 439 1,136 476 269 
			 Ealing 1,402 442 445 1,374 427 266 
			 Enfield 1,421 505 488 1,285 475 461 
			 Greenwich 1,023 626 587 1,033 537 404 
			 Harrow 1,042 243 173 1,061 235 138 
			 Havering 552 363 136 554 330 130 
			 Hillingdon 2,849 569 379 2,544 557 303 
			 Hounslow 1,001 481 317 972 426 229 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames 1,105 175 108 1,109 152 77 
			 Merton 806 305 163 693 259 142 
			 Redbridge 800 364 245 930 339 223 
			 Richmond-upon-Thames 928 185 74 873 208 53 
			 Sutton 785 214 139 734 209 120 
			 Waltham Forest 876 335 366 817 353 264 
			 Borough not known 90 39 33 22 19 2 
			 Total 50,825 15,333 12,204 49,171 14,554 9,995 
		
	
	
		
			  2003–04 
			 Borough Automatic fire alarm Good intent Malicious 
		
		
			 Inner London 30,354 7,288 5,339 
			 Camden 3,823 519 342 
			 City of London 1,136 122 30 
			 Hackney 1,692 634 428 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 1,820 333 152 
			 Haringey 1,469 480 420 
			 Islington 1,829 519 416 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 2,189 389 161 
			 Lambeth 1,718 578 403 
			 Lewisham 1,258 512 654 
			 Newham 1,037 633 636 
			 Southwark 1,854 658 480 
			 Tower Hamlets 2,295 760 608 
			 Wandsworth 1,815 426 254 
			 Westminster 6,419 725 355 
			 
			 Outer London 20,442 8,717 4,519 
			 Barking and Dagenham 397 525 351 
			 Barnet 1,377 579 195 
			 Bexley 805 413 169 
			 Brent 1,319 447 402 
			 Bromley 929 511 232 
			 Croydon 1,192 547 284 
			 Ealing 1,401 527 332 
			 Enfield 1,319 599 405 
			 Greenwich 953 675 418 
			 Harrow 1,192 287 223 
			 Havering 599 441 156 
			 Hillingdon 2,502 721 267 
			 Hounslow 1,021 542 182 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames 1,185 198 67 
			 Merton 713 296 137 
			 Redbridge 991 427 192 
			 Richmond-upon-Thames 891 266 67 
			 Sutton 793 267 131 
			 Waltham Forest 863 449 309 
			 Borough not known 40 30 6 
			 Total 50,836 16,035 9,864 
		
	
	Note:
	2002–03 excludes 15 strike days.
	Source:
	LFEPA

HIP Energy Reports

Andrew Love: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will publish the regulatory impact assessment on his proposed HIP energy reports.

Yvette Cooper: The energy report in the home information pack will implement, for marketed sales, a requirement of the EU Directive 2002/91/EC (Energy Performance of Buildings) which was negotiated by Government in 2001/02. An initial RIA on the directive was carried out and the assessment concluded that as well as improving awareness of energy efficiency the directive would help reduce carbon emissions. A separate RIA on the energy report has not been carried out. A full RIA for the directive will be produced before regulations for its implementation are laid in Parliament.

Home Information Packs

Andrew Love: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the regulatory impact assessment on the proposed home information pack energy reports followed guidelines on (a) air quality and (b) emissions of air pollutants; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The energy report in the home information pack will implement, for marketed sales, a requirement of the EU directive 2002/91/EC (Energy Performance of Buildings) which was negotiated by Government in 2001–02. An initial RIA on the directive was carried out and the assessment concluded that as well as improving awareness of energy efficiency the directive would help reduce carbon emissions. A separate RIA on the energy report has not been carried out. A full RIA for the directive will be produced before regulations for its implementation are laid in Parliament.

House Sales Chains

Mike Hancock: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will bring forward a framework for legal redress to purchasers in house sales chains who suffer losses due to individuals who withdraw their pledge to sell at a late stage.

Bridget Prentice: I have been asked to reply.
	Although an agreement to sell a house in England and Wales is usually made "subject to contract" and is unenforceable until contracts are exchanged, the parties may, at the outset, enter into an enforceable contract for the payment of compensation if one of them pulls out.
	In its review of the home buying and selling process in 1998, the Government concluded that it would not be appropriate to make such compensation agreements compulsory, given the wide variety of circumstances that could cause a sale to fail and the difficulty of apportioning blame.
	The Government have, instead, enacted legislation that is expected, when fully implemented, to help reduce the incidence of failed transactions and to make the process more transparent.
	The provision, by sellers, of home information packs should ensure that offers are made on an informed basis and buyers are not taken unawares by problems with the property at a late stage in the transaction. This should reduce the length of the period between agreeing terms and exchange of contracts, when most of the problems occur. The Government intends to introduce compulsory Home Information Packs from 2007.
	The introduction of electronic conveyancing, also from 2007, will include a "chain matrix" revealing the stage reached by each transaction to all the other participants in the chain. This information should enable those involved in the chain to make realistic assessments of the situation and to resolve delays more quickly.

Housing

Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the house-building required on Canvey Island to meet his longer term building targets.

Yvette Cooper: There is no such estimate for Canvey Island, which is within Castle Point district. The draft East of England Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS), which was produced by the East of England regional assembly rather than the Government, proposes 4,000 extra homes in this district as a whole between 2001 and 2021. The soundness of the assembly's proposals will be tested at an "Examination in Public" starting this autumn. The final version of the strategy, including housing figures, will take account of the recommendations of the independent panel which will hold the examination.

Housing

Tony Baldry: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many first-time buyers in Oxfordshire he expects to benefit from the First Time Buyers Initiative.

Yvette Cooper: It is too early to say how many first time buyers in Oxfordshire will be helped through the First Time Buyers Initiative. Our target for the initiative is to provide 15,000 affordable homes across England over the next five years to 2010. This target can be found in our Five Year Strategy, "Sustainable Communities: Homes for All", published by us in January 2005 (a copy of which is available in the Library of the House). English Partnerships is now developing a delivery plan for the First Time Buyers Initiative.
	Our consultation document "HomeBuy; Expanding the opportunity to own" launched in April 2005 set out various proposals for simplifying, making fairer and expanding our low cost home ownership programme. The consultation process closes on 24 June, and the results will be fed into English Partnerships' delivery plan. English Partnerships will be working closely with stakeholders such as the Regional Housing Boards, local planning authorities and others to assess local demands and accommodate them where possible taking account of regional strategies and development plans. Regional Housing Boards will advise on groups to be given priority, reflecting the needs of the region.

Housing

Tony Baldry: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much public sector land the Government has released for housing in Oxfordshire in the last five years; and how much further such land he plans to release.

Yvette Cooper: It is the responsibility of local planning authorities to identify and release land for housing as part of the planning process.
	The Government have implemented a number of initiatives to assist with land supply in support of the Sustainable Communities Plan.
	A register of surplus public sector land held by central Government bodies has been established. English Partnerships is currently reviewing the sites on the register to identify those which could have the potential for housing development. As at March 2005 there were 713 sites on the register. Sites are continually being added as they are identified as surplus by landowners and removed once expressions of interests are received after a site has been marketed. A list of the sites on the register, as at March 2005, can be found on the English Partnerships website at: http://www.englishpartnerships.co.uk/images/16EE954C904340DDAB44702EF5D2ADE6.pdf.
	English Partnerships will publish a quarterly update of sites on the register.
	English Partnerships has also recently taken ownership of the first 67 sites from a portfolio of 96 surplus NHS sites. The sites are currently being assessed for their development potential and will then be taken forward in consultation with the relevant local planning authorities. English Partnerships and the Defence Estates have also signed a joint working agreement on surplus land. This sets out how the agencies will work together with the objective of maximising the potential of surplus defence sites to help deliver the "Sustainable Communities Plan".
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and English Partnerships also maintain the National Land Use Database of Previously-Developed Land (NLUD-PDL). This covers vacant and derelict land and also land in use with potential for development. It covers land in both public and private ownership. Information on the sites is available from the NLUD website www.nlud.org.uk.
	In addition English Partnerships is developing the National Brownfield Strategy which will provide a coherent vision for the future development of brownfield land to underpin national, regional and local development aspirations. The strategy will help our targets for building new homes on brownfield land.

Housing

Tony Baldry: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  how much the Housing Corporation committed towards the provision of affordable housing for each district area in Oxfordshire in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how much Social Housing Grant has been committed in Oxfordshire in each of the last five years; and what proportion of that money was in support of section 106 schemes in each year.

Yvette Cooper: Expenditure on affordable housing in Oxfordshire provided through the Housing Corporation broken down by district, in the last five years, is detailed in the following table. The programmes included in the table are the Approved Development Programme (ADP), the Local Authority Social Housing Grant (LASHG) and Transitional LASHG, the Safer Communities Supported Housing Fund (SCSHF), and the Starter Home Initiative (SHI).
	The amount supporting s106 is only available for 2004–05. The total proportion for Oxfordshire is 19.6 per cent.
	
		
			  £ million 
			  ADP LASHG SCSHF SHI Total 
		
		
			 2000–01  
			 Cherwell 1.103 1.608 0.000 0.000 2.711 
			 Oxford 2.567 0.218 0.000 0.000 2.785 
			 South Oxfordshire 0.711 5.494 0.000 0.000 6.205 
			 Vale of the White Horse 0.080 4.808 0.000 0.000 4.888 
			 West Oxfordshire 0.402 0.925 0.000 0.000 1.327 
			 Oxfordshire Total 4.863 13.053 0.000 0.000 17.916 
			   
			 2001–02  
			 Cherwell 1.690 1.161 0.216 0.000 3.067 
			 Oxford 1.584 1.248 0.000 0.270 3.102 
			 South Oxfordshire 1.241 4.392 0.000 0.000 5.633 
			 Vale of the White Horse 0.414 9.734 0.000 0.000 10.148 
			 West Oxfordshire 1.687 3.377 0.000 0.000 5.064 
			 Oxfordshire Total 6.616 19.912 0.216 0.270 27.014 
			   
			 2002–03  
			 Cherwell 2.280 0.583 0.093 0.328 3.284 
			 Oxford 1.091 0.673 0.000 1.267 3.031 
			 South Oxfordshire 1.341 4.714 0.000 0.580 6.635 
			 Vale of the White Horse 0.810 5.878 0.000 0.173 6.861 
			 West Oxfordshire 0.748 6.436 0.224 0.067 7.475 
			 Oxfordshire Total 6.270 18.284 0.317 2.415 27.286 
			   
			 2003–04  
			 Cherwell 2.914 0.593 0.447 0.435 4.389 
			 Oxford 17.741 0.000 0.000 3.014 20.756 
			 South Oxfordshire 1.332 1.244 0.000 1.428 4.004 
			 Vale of the White Horse 2.124 4.346 0.000 0.358 6.828 
			 West Oxfordshire 2.934 4.160 0.013 0.362 7.469 
			 Oxfordshire Total 27.045 10.343 0.460 5.597 43.446 
			   
			 2004–05  
			 Cherwell 2.736 0.259 0.201 0.113 3.309 
			 Oxford 18.602 0.000 0.000 0.047 18.649 
			 South Oxfordshire 3.655 0.288 0.000 0.152 4.095 
			 Vale of the White Horse 2.342 0.999 0.000 0.000 3.341 
			 West Oxfordshire 5.144 0.366 0.000 0.067 5.577 
			 Oxfordshire Total 32.479 1.912 0.201 0.379 34.971 
		
	
	Note:
	All data analysed by sponsoring local authority
	Source:
	Housing Corporation

Key Worker Housing

John Denham: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to allow public service employers greater local discretion in determining who should benefit from the key worker housing scheme.

Yvette Cooper: Under the Key Worker Living programme, the responsible Government Department for the education, health, prison and probation sectors decide the eligibility criteria based on recruitment and retention evidence gathered at a local level. For the Police and Fire Services, it is the contributing force, not the Home Office or the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM), which determines eligibility.
	As part of the consultation on low cost home ownership "HomeBuy: Expanding the Opportunity to Own" we are proposing to allow Regional Housing Boards to define eligibility for our new First Time Buyer programme, which could include key workers not currently included in the definition of Key Worker Living to reflect local priorities. ODPM will shortly be reviewing those recommendations and will make a statement on future eligibility in due course.

Local Government Finance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average change in total Government grant per capita for (a) district councils, (b) county councils, (c) metropolitan councils, (d) unitary councils, (e) London boroughs, (f) fire authorities and (g) police authorities was in England in each year since 1997.

Phil Woolas: Pursuant to my answer of 6 June 2005, Official Report, column 405. I regret that incorrect information was provided. The correct information is set out in the table.
	
		Percentage
		
			  1998–99  to 1999–2000 1999–2000  to 2000–01 2000–02  to 2001–02 2001–02  to 2002–03 2002–03  to 2003–04 2003–04  to 2004–05 
		
		
			 London (excluding GLA) 6.0 6.7 4.4 4.7 12.3 2.4 
			 Metropolitan authorities 7.3 7.7 7.2 5.6 16.1 2.3 
			 Unitary authorities 6.5 8.1 6.3 6.3 16.5 -0.3 
			 Shire counties 6.2 8.7 7.1 4.8 13.0 2.8 
			 Shire districts 1.8 3.1 4.5 5.1 10.7 -8.5 
			 Fire authorities 3.6 2.3 3.0 2.4 4.5 -20.8 
			 Police authorities 2.3 4.5 6.0 2.4 7.3 2.3 
		
	
	The data used to calculate the changes are taken from data as reported by local authorities; they are outturn figures for 1998–99 to 2003–04 and budget estimates for 2004–05.
	Changes between years may not be valid due to changing local authority responsibilities. For example, the decrease for fire authorities between 2003–04 and 2004–05 is due partly to the lower levels of grant per capita received by combined fire authorities compared with other fire authorities. Before 2004–05 grants were not paid directly to combined fire authorities and so these were not included in the figures for earlier years.

Local Government Pensions

James McGovern: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what progress he has made in establishing a tripartite committee to discuss local government pensions; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) on 14 June 2005, Official Report, columns 272–73W.
	A further meeting of the committee is to be held shortly.

Millennium Dome

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much of the parking area adjacent to the Millennium Dome remains in the ownership of the Government.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The car park adjacent to the Dome is owned by London Underground and is currently largely used by commuters. The former coach park is now the site of the Beckham Academy. Only the former "kiss and drop" car park (for setting down passengers), once used by the New Millennium Experience Company is owned by English Partnerships and this will form part of the Dome's initial car parking.

Safer Stronger Committee

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much money has been allocated to each London local authority from the Safer Stronger Committee fund.

Phil Woolas: The Safer Stronger Communities Fund (SSCF) merges several existing ODPM and Home Office funding streams. Funding will be a minimum of £210 million in 2005–06, £220 million in 2006–07 and £230 million in 2007–08. The allocations to each London borough for 2005–6 are shown in the table.
	
		
			   £ 
			 Borough Total Living spaces allocation 2003–04 (three year allocation) 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 654,517.00 63,000.00 
			 Barnet 496,711.00 123,905.00 
			 Bexley 366,236.00 — 
			 Brent 1,067,592.00 86,368.00 
			 Bromley 452,760.00 — 
			 Camden 3,417,093.00 34,528.00 
			 City of London 150,970.00 — 
			 City of Westminster 1,395,638.00 20,000.00 
			 Croydon 1,044,461.00 64,680.00 
			 Ealing 2,361,275.00 — 
			 Enfield 806,563.00 — 
			 Greenwich 3,199,168.00 43,694.00 
			 Hackney 1,693,751.00 68,803.00 
			 Hamm and Fulham 707,624.00 73,836.00 
			 Haringey 1,312,611.40 — 
			 Harrow 346,065.00 49,250.00 
			 Havering 356,841.00 25,000.00 
			 Hillingdon 465,133.00 25,000.00 
			 Hounslow 450,315.00 1000,000.00 
			 Islington 1,034,415.00 225,464.00 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 662,432.00 8,067.00 
			 Kingston upon Thames 258,113.00 20,000.00 
			 Lambeth 1,386,905.00 215,473.00 
			 Lewisham 1,100,655.12 74,330.00 
			 Merton 334,262.00 — 
			 Newham 1,842,313.00 — 
			 Redbridge 444,113.00 16,000.00 
			 Richmond upon Thames 322,436.00 35,000.00 
			 Southwark 1,727,931.00 82.846.00 
			 Sutton 315,427.00 — 
			 Tower Hamlets 1,243,324.00 88,005.00 
			 Waltham Forest 1,363,230.00 24,700.00 
			 Wandsworth 1,054,832.00 48.770.00 
			 Total 33,835,712.52 1,616,719.00

Smoke Alarms

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many and what percentage of (a) battery-operated and (b) hard-wired smoke alarms were found to be defective in dwelling fires in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The information requested for each year since 1994 is contained in the following table.
	
		Smoke alarm failures in dwelling fires by type of alarm, England, 1994–2003
		
			  1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 
		
		
			 Battery-powered  
			 Alarm present 6,234 6,064 7,238 7,754 8,108 
			 Alarm failed 1,688 1,805 2,613 2,870 3,447 
			 Failure rate (percentage) 27 30 36 37 43 
			   
			 Mains-powered  
			 Alarm present 4,831 5,457 7,115 7,994 9,330 
			 Alarm failed 400 493 664 731 953 
			 Failure rate (percentage) 8 9 9 9 70 
		
	
	
		
			  1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Battery-powered  
			 Alarm present 9,156 9,596 10,189 9,395 10,057 
			 Alarm failed 3,867 4,199 4,467 3,936 3,945 
			 Failure rate (percentage) 42 44 44 42 39 
			   
			 Mains-powered  
			 Alarm present 10,832 11,597 11,370 10,929 11,896 
			 Alarm failed 1,276 1,310 1,464 1,314 1,425 
			 Failure rate (percentage) 12 11 73 12 12 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Data exclude estimates for incidents not recorded during periods of national industrial action in 2002 and 2003.
	2. Mains-powered alarms include those powered by mains only or by battery and mains.
	Source:
	Fire and Rescue Service FDR1 returns to ODPM.

Credit Card Fraud

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the cost of credit card fraud involving identity fraud in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Shaun Woodward: The PSNI have provided the following figures. These are an estimate of criminal benefit obtained as a result of deception offences involving credit cards reported to the police. I am advised that this equates closely to credit card fraud involving identity fraud.
	I am assured that the PSNI Cheque and Credit Card Unit is working closely with all relevant agencies and is involved in a number of different initiatives in an effort to combat credit card fraud. All reported instances of fraud are fully investigated and offenders made amenable to the courts.
	
		
			  Number of investigations Criminal benefit (£) 
		
		
			 2002 626 1,279,286 
			 2003 597 330,774 
			 2004 551 281,512 
			 2005 (to date) 362 413,489 
			 Total  2,305,061 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Records are not available prior to 2002.
	2. These figures are based on incidents reported to the police. The true figure could be significantly higher as much of this type of crime is not reported directly to the police, but rather financial institutions such as banks.

Disability Discrimination Act

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent assessment he has made of the compliance of public services in Northern Ireland with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

Angela Smith: While no assessment has been made of the compliance of public services in Northern Ireland with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA), and nor is there any legislative requirement to do so, Government are fully committed to complying with all the requirements of the DDA. To this end, in relation to the access duties of the DDA, Accessibility Audits have been carried out on 168 of the 205 buildings within the Northern Ireland Civic Service Estate. Four buildings are still to be audited and the remaining 33 buildings do not require to be audited or to have adjustments made at this time because there is no public interface, no disabled member of staff or for operational reasons. All sites are kept under review and changes made if necessary.
	Public service providers must ensure they are meeting their duties under the Act and the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland can provide detailed advice and information on meeting these requirements. In its publication "Code of Practice, Rights of Access—Goods, Facilities, Services and Premises" the Commission recommends, as good practice, that service providers themselves consider certain steps to ensure compliance with the DDA. These include regularly reviewing whether their services are accessible to disabled people and consulting disabled customers, disabled staff and disability organisations about the accessibility of their services.

EWAY Rapid Transport Scheme

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on progress on plans to introduce the EWAY Rapid Transport Scheme into Strangford and East Belfast.

Shaun Woodward: The pilot rapid transit scheme known as "EWAY" is included in the Belfast Metropolitan Transport Plan 2015, which was published in November 2004. This is a large, complex and expensive scheme and as with all such schemes, it is dependent on funding being available and is subject to a range of evaluation and statutory processes. Due to other higher priorities at present, it has not been possible to provide funding for EWAY in the Budget period to end 2008. The affordability of the scheme will however be kept under review in future budget rounds.

Hospital Services Access

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether British passport holders who are not registered with a general practitioner are able to access services at hospitals in the Province.

Shaun Woodward: A person's ability to access hospital services in Northern Ireland is not dependent upon their being registered with a general practitioner or being a British passport holder. Those persons deemed "ordinarily resident" and visitors from European Economic Area or from a number of countries with reciprocal health care agreements can receive those services free at the point of delivery. Possession of a British passport does not automatically confer "ordinarily resident" status, for example, in cases where a former UK resident has been working outside of the country for more than five years.

Local Election (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Order

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reason the draft Local Election (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Order 2005, tabled on 9 June was withdrawn on 16 June; what the (a) substantive and (b) other differences between the order withdrawn and the new one tabled on 16 June were; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: The effect of the new order tabled on 16 June was to add an "or" before civil partner in Article 4(1)(a) . Due to a typographical error the "or" had failed to be included in the original order tabled on 9 June.
	Article 4(1)(a) of the order as laid on 9 June read:
	(a) in paragraph 1(2)(c) after "spouse," insert "civil partner";'
	Article 4(1)(a) of the order laid on 16 June reads:
	(a) in paragraph 1(2)(c) after "spouse" insert "or civil partner";'.

Court Ushers

David Kidney: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will undertake a consultation on a code of practice for coroners courts on services for court ushers, with particular reference to bereaved relatives.

Harriet Harman: We plan to issue a White Paper and a draft coroner and death certification Bill during the first parliamentary session. Meanwhile the charter takes effect, the Department is supporting a range of local initiatives aimed at improving the quality of support, and opportunity for participation, provided to bereaved people who currently have contact with the coroner system.

Short Money

David Drew: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what accountability mechanisms there are to scrutinise the spending of "Short" money.

Geoff Hoon: I have been asked to reply.
	Short money is governed by the Resolution of the House of Commons of 26 May 1999.
	Each opposition party which receives Short money is required to submit a certificate from an independent professional auditor within nine months of the year end confirming that all the expenses for which the party received financial assistance under the terms of the Resolution were incurred exclusively in connection with the party's parliamentary business.
	If the certificate is not received within the time specified no further financial assistance is paid until such a certificate is so furnished.
	Guidance for completion of the certificate is provided by the House administration and the form of the certificate has been agreed with the National Audit Office.

Anaemia

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many people have suffered from cancer-treatment induced anaemia in England over the last three years;
	(2)  how many cancer patients in England are receiving erythropoietin;
	(3)  how many cancer centres prescribe erythropoietin;
	(4)  if she will meet leading clinicians to discuss the use of erythropoietin in the NHS; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The Department does not collect information on the number of cancer patients with cancer treatment induced anaemia; the number of cancer patients who receive erythropoietin or the number of cancer centres prescribing erythropoietin.
	Erythropoietin (alpha and beta) and darbopoetin for the treatment of cancer treatment induced anaemia have been referred to National Institute for Healthcare and Clinical Excellence for appraisal. Guidance is expected to be published at the end of this year. It would be better to wait until that guidance is available before considering setting up a meeting.

Anti-arthritis drugs

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will take steps to ensure that health care services in Shropshire receive the funding required to ensure equality of access to anti-arthritis drugs on a geographical basis.

Rosie Winterton: Funding is allocated to primary care trusts (PCTs) on the basis of the relative needs of their populations. A weighted capitation formula is used to determine each PCT's target share of available resources, to enable them to commission similar levels of health services for populations in similar need. The components of the formula are used to weight each PCT's "crude" population according to their relative need (age, and additional need) for healthcare and the unavoidable geographical differences in the cost of providing healthcare (market forces factor).
	It is for PCTs to determine how to use the funding allocated to them to commission services to meet the healthcare needs of their local populations.

Cancer Services/Treatment

Adrian Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to improve the pre-diagnostic infrastructure for breast cancer.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 21 June 2005
	People who live in deprived areas are less likely to attend for screening for breast cancer. Including cultural and religious reasons, women from minority ethnic groups are less likely to accept invitations for screening than the general population as a whole. Language and access to information can be a significant barrier and can affect the coverage levels.
	A number of steps have been taken to improve this situation:
	The national informed choice leaflet, "Breast Screening: The Facts", which is sent out with every invitation for screening, has now been translated into 18 languages.
	In December 2003, national health service cancer screening programmes published "Inequalities of Access to Cancer Screening: A Literature Review". The recommendations in the review have been sent to all local screening programmes.
	A number of local actions have been put in place to combat inequalities in inner-city areas. For example, in Haringey, sessions on screening have been held in community centres, with advocates from the relevant communities attending to translate and encourage women to attend their screening appointment. Many primary care trusts are conducting similar initiatives across the country.
	In 2004, to raise awareness about the availability of breast cancer screening, the NHS cancer screening programmes issued a regional communications pack to all local breast screening programmes to increase coverage rates. The packs include advice on raising the awareness of screening, including posters.

Clinical Negligence

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total cost to the NHS has been from successful claims for clinical negligence in each year since 1975 in (a) nominal and (b) real terms.

Jane Kennedy: The NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA) handles clinical negligence claims made against national health service bodies in England. No accurate national data was collected on clinical negligence claims prior to the establishment of the NHSLA on 20 November 1995. Centrally collected data from the NHSLA are shown in the table.
	Reliable data on real costs are not available. It may take a number of years from notification of a claim to settlement of that claim and payments will have been made in relation to that claim throughout the full period. For example, defence costs will be paid quarterly as the claim progresses and the claimant bill will be paid at conclusion.
	
		Total payments for successful closed clinical negligence claims by year of notification to the NHSLA scheme member as at 31 March 2005(22)
		
			 Year of notification Total payments (£) 
		
		
			 1996–97 238,614,168 
			 1997–98 416,888,183 
			 1998–99 330,573,238 
			 1999–2000 326,812,451 
			 2000–01 193,803,432 
			 2001–02 117,742,245 
			 2002–03 36,609,841 
			 2003–04 10,539,364 
		
	
	(22) The year a claim is notified to the NHSLA has no relevance to the year payments are made with regard to that claim. It may take a number of years from notification of a claim to settlement of that claim and payments will have been made in relation to that claim over the full period.

Clinical Negligence

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much compensation NHS bodies paid in respect of clinical negligence claims in each year since 1996.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 6 June 2005
	The NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA) handles negligence claims made against national health service bodies in England. Data collected by the NHSLA is shown in the table.
	
		Member and NHSLA payments(25) £
		
			  Damages paid 
			 Scheme 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Clinical negligence scheme for trusts (CNST)(26) 33,983 560,503 4,007,609 9,862,486 19,433,590 244,825,189 107,204,725 205,443,691 
			 Existing liability scheme (ELS)(27) 400,000 28,445,121 46,530,738 277,809,505 559,201,647 447,350,269 225,478,739 90,106,254 
			 Former regional health authority (FRHA)(28) 639,647 14,914,310 9,588,467 6,214,126 5,927,289 3,587,722 2,495,605 1,261,673 
			 Total 1,073,630 43,919,934 60,126,814 293,886,117 584,562,526 695,763,180 335,179,068 296,811,618 
		
	
	(25) Until 1 April 2000, excess levels were in place for ELS and until 1 April 2002, excess levels were in place for CNST. NHS trusts could settle claims up to the excess amount without reference to or funding from the NHSLA. The figures include sub-excess claims where these were notified to the NHSLA.
	(26) CNST claims are those in respect of liabilities occurring on or after 1 April 1995.
	(27) ELS claims are those open at 1 April 1996, where the incident pre-dates 1 April 1995.
	(28) FRHA claims are pre-April 1996 and are cases against the former RHAs, fully funded by the NHSLA.

Clinical Negligence

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much NHS trusts paid in respect of legal fees in clinical negligence cases in each year since 1996.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 6 June 2005
	The NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA) handles negligence claims made against national health service bodies in England. Data collected by the NHSLA is shown in the tables.
	
		Member and NHSLA payments(29) £
		
			  Defence costs paid 2 
			 Scheme 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Clinical negligence scheme for trusts (CNST)(31) 11,491 41,854 356,086 1,885,555 5,326,427 56,685,965 27,096,391 37,089,942 
			 Existing Liability scheme (ELS)(32) 4,766 3,324,022 8,789,602 50,977,551 45,764,916 54,392,279 20,879,178 14,999,981 
			 Former regional health authority (FRHA)(33) 0 2,946,002 1,894,284 721,005 627,081 585,943 275,377 223,225 
			 Total 16,258 6,311,877 11,039,973 53,584,111 51,718,423 111,664,186 48,250,946 52,313,148 
		
	
	
		
			 £ 
			  Claimant costs paid 2 
			 Scheme 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 CNST(31) 7,572 53,374 464,800 609,336 3,399,653 35,837,655 28,552,205 49,643,945 
			 ELS(32) 32,849 9,666,656 21,994,957 66,925,508 66,538,960 61,357,279 32,609,855 20,967,172 
			 FRHA(33) 0 2,593,158 2,748,432 1,507,462 768,837 1,246,830 578,499 293,793 
			 Total 40,421 12,313,188 25,208,189 69,042,306 70,707,450 98,441,765 61,740,559 70,904,911 
		
	
	(29) Until 1 April, 2000 excess levels were in place for ELS and until 1 April 2002, excess levels were in place for CNST. NHS trusts could settle claims up to the excess amount without reference or funding from the NHSLA. The figures include sub-excess claims where these were notified to the NHSLA.
	(30) Defence costs are accrued quarterly as claims progress whereas claimant bills are paid at conclusion. Therefore, the levels incurred for defence and claimant costs each year are not directly comparable.
	(31) CNST claims are those in respect of liabilities occurring on or after 1 April 1995.
	(32) ELS claims are those open at 1 April 1996, where the incident pre-dates 1 April 1995.
	(33) FRHA claims are pre-April 1996 and are cases against the former RHAs, fully funded by the NHSLA.

Clinical Trials Directive

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the effect of the European Clinical Trials Directive on the viability of future UK research projects.

Jane Kennedy: The Government aim to build on the United Kingdom's reputation as an excellent place for clinical research. With partners, it established the UK clinical research collaboration (UKCRC) to co-ordinate major new investment in clinical research infrastructure. The UKCRC includes Government and other public funders of research, as well as industry and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
	It is too soon to assess the effect of the European Clinical Trials Directive. The Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations 2004 (SI 2004 No. 1031) came into force on 1 May 2004. They implemented Directive 2001/20/EC in the UK. That Directive required the Commission to publish detailed guidelines on good clinical practice The Commission published a Good Clinical Practice Directive (2005/28/EC) in April 2005. Member states are required to implement it by January 2006. The Commission has yet to publish related guidelines for non-commercial trials.
	The Government are committed to make an assessment as soon as reliable evidence is available. The MHRA acts as the licensing authority for all clinical trials within the scope of the Directive. It has asked the UKCRC to review the evidence to date, consider how to reduce any adverse regulatory impact and agree plans for long-term monitoring. Cancer Research UK and the national clinical research network have undertaken initial assessments of opinion about the effect of the Directive on cancer clinical trials across the UK. Other assessments are being carried out at the European level with the Federation of European Cancer Societies. The UKCRC core team has agreed to bring together findings from these and other studies.
	The Government welcome the important contributions that Cancer Research UK and other stakeholders are making in monitoring the implementation of the Clinical Trials Directive, and will consider their findings carefully.

Clostridium Difficile

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if she will make a statement on the outbreak of clostridium difficile at Stoke Mandeville hospital, Buckinghamshire;
	(2)  what research her Department has commissioned regarding the outbreak of clostridium difficile at Stoke Mandeville hospital, Buckinghamshire.

Jane Kennedy: It was announced last week that there would be an independent inquiry into the outbreak of clostridium difficile at Stoke Mandeville hospital. Officials are speaking to the Healthcare Commission about the possible terms of reference and scope for an investigation. Research needs may arise from this inquiry but the first priority remains to ensure that the outbreak at Stoke Mandeville hospital is under control and this process will include epidemiological and laboratory analyses.

Cumberland Infirmary

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what action she proposes to take to tackle hygiene failings at the Cumberland Infirmary identified in the recent Patient and Public Forum report;
	(2)  which of the conclusions of the Patient and Public Forum investigation into the Cumberland Infirmary she (a) accepts and (b) does not accept;
	(3)  what action she plans to take following the recent Patient and Public Forum investigation into the Cumberland Infirmary.

Liam Byrne: This is a matter for the North Cumbria Acute Hospitals National Health Service Trust to whom the recent patient and public involvement forum "Bug Watch" report was submitted. Trusts have a duty to respond to the reports of patient and public involvement forums setting out what action they will take to respond to the recommendations that have been made.

Dementia

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many residential care places are available in each strategic health authority for people with early onset dementia.

Liam Byrne: Data is not available in the form requested. However, information on the number of residential care places for adults with mental health problems aged 18 and over at 31 March 2001 is shown in the table by strategic health authority.
	I understand from the Chair of the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) that figures for later years were collected by the National Care Standards Commission, and now CSCI, but comparable details are not available.
	
		Number of residential care places for people with mental health problems by age and strategic health authority at 31 March 2001
		
			 Strategic health authority People with mental health problems aged 18 to 64 People with mental health problems aged 65 and over Total 
		
		
			 England 16,770 23,320 40,100 
			 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 400 1,080 1,480 
			 County Durham and Tees Valley 340 860 1,200 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire 520 1,120 1,640 
			 Greater Manchester 900 400 1,300 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside 780 880 1,660 
			 North and East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire 700 4,950 5,650 
			 West Yorkshire 510 970 1,480 
			 South Yorkshire 430 1,210 1,640 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire 180 400 570 
			 Birmingham and the Black Country 720 320 1,040 
			 West Midlands South 220 320 540 
			 Thames Valley 260 200 460 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight 890 510 1,400 
			 Kent and Medway 840 1,180 2,020 
			 Surrey and Sussex 1,230 2,580 3,810 
			 Trent 710 450 1,160 
			 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland 610 340 940 
			 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire 570 1,340 1,910 
			 South West Peninsula 910 740 1,650 
			 Dorset and Somerset 360 660 1,030 
			 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire 710 680 1,390 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire 300 220 520 
			 Essex 450 80 530 
			 North West London 490 110 590 
			 North Central London 950 340 1,280 
			 North East London 570 180 750 
			 South East London 660 560 1,210 
			 South West London 570 670 1,240 
		
	
	Source:
	RA Form A

Dentistry

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the average income of NHS dentists in London in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The average general dental service (CDS) gross fee per dentist in the London area since 1996–97 are shown in the tables.
	
		Numbers of dentists with open GDS contracts
		
			   As at end March 2005 
			 Contract health body code Contract health body name 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 
		
		
			 5A4 Havering 85 90 98 100 105 
			 5A5 Kingston 65 69 71 72 77 
			 5A7 Bromley 145 137 140 148 147 
			 5A8 Greenwich 95 96 95 103 104 
			 5A9 Barnet 186 185 189 200 199 
			 SAT Hillingdon 106 108 111 115 119 
			 5C1 Enfield 115 117 118 128 133 
			 5C2 Barking and Dagenham 49 54 54 58 57 
			 5C3 City and Hackney 88 92 95 84 86 
			 5C4 Tower Hamlets 72 69 66 64 74 
			 5C5 Newham 78 79 92 93 97 
			 5C9 Haringey Teaching 124 126 129 129 125 
			 5H1 Hammersmith and Fulham 116 139 146 157 141 
			 5HX Ealing 198 222 225 235 194 
			 SHY Hounslow 137 150 158 161 153 
			 5K5 Brent 156 161 175 161 168 
			 5K6 Harrow 103 111 118 122 122 
			 5K7 Camden 153 157 150 164 170 
			 5K8 Islington 89 98 100 113 133 
			 5K9 Croydon 162 177 175 171 181 
			 5LA Kensington and Chelsea 71 82 88 87 87 
			 5LC Westminster 190 211 215 220 211 
			 5LD Lambeth 114 128 119 131 126 
			 5LE Southwark 100 95 95 99 99 
			 5LF Lewisham 105 110 105 113 117 
			 5LG Wandsworth 146 156 166 172 167 
			 5M6 Richmond and Twickenham 98 99 105 106 104 
			 5M7 Sutton and Merton 174 169 178 187 191 
			 SNA Redbridge 107 112 117 133 140 
			 5NC Waltham Forest 83 86 94 98 90 
			 TAK Bexley Care Trust 91 87 89 91 89 
			 Total  3,601 3,772 3,876 4,015 4,006 
		
	
	
		
			 Contract health body code Contract health body name 2002 2003 2004 2005 
		
		
			 5A4 Havering 109 107 114 117 
			 5A5 Kingston 73 75 77 81 
			 5A7 Bromley 149 157 169 165 
			 5A8 Greenwich 102 104 114 111 
			 5A9 Barnet 208 212 207 205 
			 SAT Hillingdon 119 125 125 122 
			 5C1 Enfield 134 141 151 152 
			 5C2 Barking and Dagenham 57 54 56 59 
			 5C3 City and Hackney 81 80 87 85 
			 5C4 Tower Hamlets 69 78 89 92 
			 5C5 Newham 91 92 98 95 
			 5C9 Haringey Teaching 124 134 146 144 
			 5H1 Hammersmith and Fulham 156 140 146 148 
			 5HX Ealing 202 187 189 173 
			 SHY Hounslow 160 138 145 120 
			 5K5 Brent 167 175 166 166 
			 5K6 Harrow 126 124 127 131 
			 5K7 Camden 165 155 165 160 
			 5K8 Islington 127 112 117 118 
			 5K9 Croydon 180 176 186 193 
			 5LA Kensington and Chelsea 83 78 78 79 
			 5LC Westminster 207 192 185 187 
			 5LD Lambeth 123 117 117 123 
			 5LE Southwark 98 95 88 96 
			 5LF Lewisham 124 120 126 124 
			 5LG Wandsworth 170 150 155 149 
			 5M6 Richmond and Twickenham 109 110 111 114 
			 5M7 Sutton and Merton 198 197 191 183 
			 SNA Redbridge 141 139 142 146 
			 5NC Waltham Forest 89 92 98 102 
			 TAK Bexley Care Trust 86 86 90 93 
			 Total  4,027 3,942 4,055 4,033 
		
	
	
		Year end March Average GDS gross fee per London dentist1997 to 2005
		
			 Year end March Number of GDS dentists GDS gross fees (£) Ave fee per dentist (£) 
		
		
			 1996–97 3,601 198,076,292 55,006 
			 1997–98 3,772 200,461,816 53,145 
			 1998–99 3,876 211,359,763 54,530 
			 1999–2000 4,015 216,653,251 53,961 
			 2000–01 4,006 229,052,591 57,177 
			 2001–02 4,027 235,624,063 58,511 
			 2002–03 3,942 242,537,032 61,526 
			 2003–04 4,055 254,448,442 62,749 
			 2004–05 4,033 252,320,728 62,564 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The figures are based on the numbers of dentists with open GDS contract.
	2. GDS gross fees cover a dentist's individual earnings as well as their practice expenses.
	3. The dentists include principals, assistants and trainees.
	4. A dentist will be counted more than once if he/she works in more than one PCT.
	5. Prison contracts have not been included in this analysis.
	6. In view of the boundary changes from health authorities to PCT's in 2002 the areas have been defined using practice postcodes.
	7. The figures provide a snapshot of the number of individual dentists with an open contract at 31 March.
	8. A dentist with a GDS contract may provide as little or as much NHS treatment as he or she chooses.
	9. The Dental Practice Board has no information concerning the amount of time dedicated to NHS work by individual dentists.
	10. Care should be taken when analysing this data due to dentists changing contracts from GDS to PDS, particularly the later years.
	11. The earnings figures are based on whatever the definition of London was at the time, in particular the earlier figures are based on Health Authority boundaries.
	12. Dentist numbers are on a headcount basis—no estimate of whole-time equivalent is available.
	Old health authorities used to define London
	QAP Barking and HaveringQAQ Barnet
	QAA Bexley and Greenwich
	QAR Brent and Harrow
	QAC Bromley
	QAT Camden and Islington
	QAD Croydon
	QAV Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow
	QAW East London and The City
	QA4 Enfield and Haringey
	QA2 Hillingdon
	QA3 Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster
	QAH Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham
	QAG Kingston and Richmond
	QAJ Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth
	A5 Redbridge and Waltham Forest

Dentistry

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists have (a) left and (b) joined the NHS in the Portsmouth area in each of the last five years.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		General dental service (GDS) and personal dental service (PDS)—number of dentists leaving and joining the national health service in Portsmouth City Teaching Primary Care Trust (PCT) as at December in the specified years
		
			  Complete leavers Complete new entrants 
		
		
			 2000 13 11 
			 2001 7 9 
			 2002 4 9 
			 2003 7 7 
			 2004 5 6 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Complete leaver means that the dentist had an open contract in December of the previous year but no GDS or PDS contract in the PCT in December of the specified year.
	2. Complete new entrant means that the dentist had an open contract in December of the specified year but no GDS or PDS contract in the PCT in December of the previous year.
	3. The figures are based on GDS and PDS contracts.
	4. The dentists include principals, assistants and trainees.
	Source:
	Dental Practice Board.

Dentistry

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS dentists were employed in each primary care trust in North Yorkshire in (a) 2002–03, (b) 2003–04 and (c) 2004–05.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		General dental services (GDS) and personal dental services (PDS)—number of dentists in North Yorkshire primary care trusts (PCTs) as at 31 March each year
		
			 Primary care trust 2003 2004 2005 
		
		
			 Craven, Harrogate and Rural District 101 104 106 
			 Hambleton and Richmondshire 50 55 57 
			 Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale 67 69 87 
			 Selby and York 127 134 143 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The figures given by PCT include all dentists practising in that area. Some dentists may have an open GDS or PDS contract in more than one PCT and therefore they have been counted more than once.
	2. Prison contracts have been excluded.
	3. The areas have been defined using practice postcodes within the specified areas.
	Source:
	Dental Practice Board

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research she has commissioned on the (a) physical causes and (b) treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy; how much public funding has been spent on such research in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. Member to the reply my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Care Services (Mr. Liam Byrne) gave on 16 June 2005, Official Report, column 637W to the hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr. Lansley).

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will take steps to increase the funding for research to find treatments for Duchenne muscular dystrophy; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 21 June 2005
	The main agency through which the Government support medical research is the Medical Research Council (MRC). It is a long-standing and important principle, held to by successive administrations, that the Government do not prescribe how individual research councils should distribute their resources between competing priorities. In 2003–04, the MRC spent some £2.4 million on research relevant to Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).In March 2004, my right hon. Friend, the Member for Hamilton, North and Bellshill, (Dr. Reid), announced an award of £1.6 million over three years to fund gene therapy research for DMD. This is pioneering research and it is not possible to know in advance of completion of the preliminary work already funded by the Department whether this approach is likely to be successful. We look forward to receiving progress reports from the DMD research consortium in due course.

Eye Tests (London)

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many eye tests were conducted in each London health authority in each year since 1997; and how many of them were free to the user.

Jane Kennedy: The number of all eye tests that were conducted in each London health authority is not collected centrally. However, the total number of sight tests paid for by the national health service in the London strategic health authorities since 1997 is collected centrally and is shown in the table.
	
		
			 Strategic health authority 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 North West London 235,793 223,970 280,634 280,936 286,719 279,395 282,842 
			 North Central London 188,480 180,171 214,174 224,336 215,142 201,480 208,946 
			 North East London 254,802 257,947 299,614 293,362 294,412 283,500 282,725 
			 South East London 189,295 187,477 237,871 248,497 249,720 242,308 240,961 
			 South West London 155,014 153,930 206,217 206,706 197,540 198,239 202,808 
			 Total 1,023,384 1,003,495 1,238,510 1,253,837 1,243,533 1,204,923 1,218,282 
		
	
	Note:
	1. Sight tests cannot be equated to the numbers of patients. Although most people do not come back for a sight test within the year, some patients suffering from medical conditions are advised to have re-examinations sooner.
	2. With effect from 1 April 1999, the Government restored eligibility to everyone aged 60 or over regardless of income.
	3. Everyone was eligible for free NHS sight tests until 1989, when eligibility was restricted to children, people on low income and benefits and people suffering from or predisposed to eye disease.

Faith Communities

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent consultations have been carried out by her Department with representatives of faith communities; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The Department consulted with faith communities when producing the national service frameworks for coronary heart disease, diabetes and mental health. The Department and the national health service continue to engage faith communities in public health campaigns such as smoking cessation and organ donation. The Department also maintains close contact with a multi-faith group, which was independently formed by and comprises of representatives of a wide range of faith communities, as part of our commitment to a multi-faith approach to NHS chaplaincy.
	Recent departmental consultations with faith communities include the following:
	The development of the departmental guidance, "NHS Chaplaincy: Meeting the Religious and Spiritual Needs of Patients and Staff", published in November 2003 and the Department's subsequent review of the central funding arrangements in the summer of 2004. The review was conducted with the participation of the multi-faith group, Hospital Chaplaincies Council, College of Health Care Chaplains, Free Churches Council, South Yorkshire Workforce Development Confederation, Jewish Visitation Committee, Muslim Council of Britain and representatives from the other main world faiths. This report was followed by a further consultation period to allow the faith groups to comment on the recommendations made in the report. The Department and its representatives met regularly with the above groups during this time, culminating with the Department's response, which was published on 23 March 2005.
	In November 2003, the Department organised a stakeholder event including representatives of faith communities as part of the national consultation on "Fair for All Personal to You: Choice, Responsiveness and Equity in the NHS". Stakeholders had the opportunity to contribute ideas to choice, responsiveness and equity in the provision of health and social services that are more patient-centred and fair to all.
	In the field of mental health, the National Institute for Mental Health in England is collaborating with the Mental Health Foundation on a project exploring the links between spirituality and mental health. The aim of the project is to collate current thinking on the importance of spirituality in mental health, to evaluate the role of faith communities, and to develop and promote good practice.
	"Delivering Race Equality in Mental Health Care", the Government's action plan for tackling inequalities in services for black and minority ethnic communities, was published in January 2005 and was based on wide consultation including representatives of faith groups. It states clearly that everyone who experiences mental ill health is entitled to a safe and clinically effective environment that respects their beliefs, culture, faith, spiritual needs, background and values. Local health agencies are expected to form partnerships with diverse faith communities, providing a forum for discussion about mental health services.

Financial Deficits (Eastbourne)

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the financial deficits were (a) at the end of the last financial year and (b) for the most recent period for which figures are available of (i) the East Sussex hospitals trust, (ii) the Eastbourne Downs primary care trust and (iii) the county healthcare crust.

Caroline Flint: The latest year for which audited data on the financial position of national health service organisations is available is 2003–04. The financial position for East Sussex hospitals NHS trust, Eastbourne Downs primary care trust (PCT) and East Sussex county healthcare NHS trust is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  £ 
			  Trust Outturn 2003–04 surplus/(deficit) 
		
		
			 East Sussex hospitals NHS trust (1,787,000) 
			 Eastbourne Downs PCT (3,533,000) 
			 East Sussex county healthcare NHS trust (1,025,000) 
		
	
	All figures are from the audited summarisation schedules for 2003–04 for the particular bodies.

Food Standards Agency

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish the Food Standards Agency Nutrition Strategy.

Caroline Flint: The Food Standards Agency's role, intentions and targets on eating for health are set out in its strategic plan for 2005–10, "Putting consumers first". This was published last December and a copy is available in the Library.

General Practitioner Cover

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what minimum standards of cover are laid down by her Department for out-of-hours general practitioner services in England; and how these standards are monitored.

Liam Byrne: The Department's aim is to ensure that all patients can be assured of high quality, responsive and consistent out-of-hours services wherever they live. That is why we have put in place the quality requirements, which set minimum standards for the delivery of out-of-hours care. Primary care trusts and strategic health authorities must performance manage the provider to ensure that these requirements are met.

Hepatitis C

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will (a) mount a hepatitis C awareness campaign and (b) develop adequately resourced managed clinical networks to tackle hepatitis C.

Caroline Flint: The Department launched a hepatitis C awareness campaign for health care professionals in June 2004 and, following that, a public awareness campaign in December 2004; both are on-going.
	The "Hepatitis C Strategy for England" proposed the development of managed clinical networks for the assessment and treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C infection to enable co-ordinated pathways of care. In line with "Shifting the Balance of Power", decisions about networks and their funding are for local determination.

Herceptin

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what representations she has received from Roche relating to the licensing of herceptin for non-terminal breast cancer patients;
	(2)  if she will intervene in the licensing process to ensure that herceptin is rapidly approved for NHS treatment in all breast cancer cases.

Rosie Winterton: Roche has written to the Department to make Ministers aware of recent trial results for herceptin as an adjuvant treatment for early breast cancer. They have informed us that they are working closely with the regulatory authorities about licensing.
	The licensing procedure is a confidential matter between the regulatory bodies, European Medicine Agency and United Kingdom Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, and the pharmaceutical company concerned. It involves the detailed evaluation of the application and supporting evidence by experts, known as ""rapporteurs". It would not be appropriate for the Department to intervene in this process.
	When applying for a licence a company can ask the regulatory bodies for an expedited assessment if there is an urgent need in patients which is unmet by any other treatments. Information regarding the progress of individual applications for license is commercially sensitive and, as such, is not available to the Department.

Herceptin

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Government are taking to support the fast-tracking of National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence appraisal for the use of Herceptin to treat early-stage breast cancer HER2-positive women.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 20 June 2005
	Herceptin is not yet licensed for early-stage breast cancer in England and cannot be considered by the National Institute for Healthcare and Clinical Excellence until it receives its license.

Hospital Workers (Drug Dependency)

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what support is available to hospital workers who become addicted to drugs;
	(2)  whether the Government plan to increase the support available to hospital workers who become addicted to drugs.

Liam Byrne: The Department issued guidance, "Taking alcohol and other drugs out of the NHS workplace", in February 2001. Earlier this year, the guidance was re-issued as part of the "Management of Health, Safety and Welfare Issues for NHS Staff", by NHS Employers, which provides support to employers.
	The guidance recommends that staff who are identified as having a problem, either through self-referral or management action, and who are willing to undertake treatment, should be rehabilitated. The cost of retaining them as useful employees and utilising their knowledge far outweighs the costs of losing them from the national health service.
	NHS employers should have policies and support in place to address any problems of drugs and alcohol use among staff. The findings of the recent NHS staff survey report 80 per cent. of staff having access to counselling services.

Hospitals (Shropshire)

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) budget and (b) budget deficit of the RJ and AH Orthopaedic hospital, Gobowen has been in each of the last five years.

Rosie Winterton: The table shows the total income and the retained surplus/(deficit) for the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic hospital national health service trust.
	
		
			   £ thousand 
			   Total income Retained surplus/(Deficit) 
		
		
			 1999–2000 30,447 Breakeven 
			 2000–01 32,077 Breakeven 
			 2001–02 35,554 9 
			 2002–03 38,271 (792) 
			 2003–04 41,968 (2,314) 
		
	
	Sources:
	Audited summarisation schedules of the above trust 1999–2000 to 2003–04.
	Shropshire and Staffordshire strategic health authority reports that the rrust is planning to reduce the deficit during the current financial year based on a range of measures predominantly linked to delivering increased additional activity.

Inspection fees (Charities)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if she will reduce inspection fees levied by the Healthcare Commission on small charities offering medical treatments;
	(2)  for what reasons inspection fees charged for the Sussex MS Treatment Centre in Southwick, West Sussex, by the Healthcare Commission are due to rise by the amount planned in the period to 2008;
	(3)  what the reasons are for the proposed increase of inspection fees charged by the Healthcare Commission to inspect small charitable medical treatment centres over the next three years.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 20 June 2005
	Government policy is to move to a position of full cost recovery, where the fee income received by inspectorates, such as the Healthcare Commission, matches the costs incurred in carrying out regulatory work. Our intention is that the Healthcare Commission should achieve a position of full cost recovery by 2008 at the latest. The regulatory fee increase for 2005–06, announced in February 2005, was a step in that direction. No decisions have been taken about the level of fees in future years, though the costs of registration and inspection are still higher than the sum collected by the Healthcare Commission in fees.
	When the fee levels for 2005–06 were announced in February, my noble Friend, the then Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Lord Warner) wrote to private and voluntary health care providers telling them of the new fees; he also confirmed that the Department would be working with the Healthcare Commission to develop a timetable for the Commission to take on responsibility for fee setting and that we anticipated that the Commission would assume responsibility from April 2006. I understand that in preparation for taking on that responsibility, the Commission has established a programme to look at costs and the different types of providers it regulates so that when it is given the power to set fees, it will have comprehensive information on which to base its approach. The Commission would also consult publicly on any new fee structure.

IT Contracts

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) projected cost at the time of tender and (b) actual cost at the time of completion was for each IT contract commissioned by her Department in the last five years.

Jane Kennedy: The information technology contracts commissioned by the Department, with projected costs at the time of tender and the actual cost at time of completion, are shown in the table.
	
		
			   £ 
			 Project Projected cost Actual cost 
		
		
			 'VISTA'—Oracle financials system 6,130,000 5,633,498 
			 'PAST'—processing of abortion statistics 109,100 137,300 
			 Benchmarking programme 1,168,000 971,000 
			 BT hosting 345,000 306,000 
			 Departmental website hosting 145,000 156,000 
		
	
	The increased actual costs for the PAST project are as a result of additional requirements identified following award of contract. Similarly, the increase in costs for the Departmental website hosting is a reflection of a refining of service and service levels.

Maternity Services

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance she has issued on the provision of maternity services, including HIV treatment to prevent mother to child transmission, to women who do not have leave to remain in the UK.

Liam Byrne: Guidance on how to handle the provision of maternity services to women without leave to remain in the United Kingdom is contained in the document, "Implementing the Overseas Visitors Hospital Charging Regulations: Guidance for NHS Trust Hospitals in England", issued to all trusts in April 2004.
	In response to a recommendation from the Health Select Committee in its recent report, "New Developments in Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Policy", the existing guidance was re-issued to trust overseas visitors managers on 16 May 2005. This confirmed that, because of the seriousness of potential risks to mother and baby, maternity services should be treated as immediately necessary treatment and provided without delay. This could include HIV treatment if considered clinically appropriate. However, if the patient is an overseas visitor who is not eligible to receive national health service hospital treatment free of charge, then they should be charged for any treatment provided.

Medical Staff

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Government are taking to ensure (a) doctors and (b) dentists are not intoxicated while at work; and what procedure is followed if a doctor or dentist is found to be intoxicated while on duty.

Liam Byrne: Every national health service employer has a code of conduct or staff rules, which sets out acceptable standards of conduct and behaviour expected of all its employees. Breaches of these rules are considered to be misconduct. Misconduct can cover a wide range of behaviour and be classified in a number of ways.
	The Department issued guidance, "Taking alcohol and other drugs out of the NHS workplace" in February 2001. Earlier this year the guidance was re-issued as part of the "Management of Health, Safety and Welfare Issues for NHS Staff" by NHS Employers, who provide support to employers.
	The guidance recommends that staff who are identified as having a problem, either through self-referral or management action, and who are willing to undertake treatment, should be rehabilitated. The cost of retaining them as useful employees and utilising their knowledge far outweighs the costs of losing them from the NHS.
	NHS employers should have policies and support in place to address any problems of drugs and alcohol use among staff. The findings of the recent NHS staff survey report showed 80 per cent. of staff having access to counselling services.

Mental Health Wards (Safety)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what guidance her Department provides to mental health wards to improve (a) staff, (b) patient and (c) visitor safety;
	(2)  what plans she has to improve the safety of (a) patients and (b) staff within mental health wards.

Rosie Winterton: The National Institute for Mental Health in England (NIMHE) published guidance on "Developing Positive Practice to Support the Safe and Therapeutic Management of Aggression and Violence in Mental Health In-patient Settings" in February 2004.
	The Department also commissioned the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to develop guidelines on "The short-term management of disturbed or violent behaviour in in-patient psychiatric settings and emergency departments", which was published in February 2005.
	In 2004, a national advisory and consultancy service was jointly established by NIMHE and the National Patient Safety Agency to support frontline services and a cross-government group is developing proposals for national accreditation and regulation of trainers and training programmes on the recognition, prevention and management of violence.
	The NHS Security Management Service, along with NIMHE, has developed a training syllabus on non-physical intervention techniques for staff working in the mental health and learning disability environment, which, following trials in the summer, is envisaged to be implemented throughout the NHS. This syllabus includes de-escalation techniques and cultural awareness sessions with the aim of giving staff the skills required to be able to recognise, prevent, de-escalate and manage potentially violent situations.
	The Department has issued additional directions and guidance regarding the safety and security at Ashworth, Broadmoor and Rampton Hospitals, which can be found on the Department's website.

MRSA

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much Government funding has been allocated to research into MRSA in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The main agency through which the Government supports medical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council (MRC). The MRC is an independent body, funded by the Department of Trade and Industry via the Office of Science and Technology.
	The MRC does not currently fund meticillin resistant "Staphylococcus" aureus (MRSA) research and has not done so over the last five years. The MRC is, however, supporting a considerable programme of underpinning research that may lead to a greater understanding of MRSA and contribute to practical solutions in the future.
	The Department's national research programme spend on projects related to MRSA from 2001–02 to 2005–06 is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Amount (£ thousand) 
		
		
			 2001–02 23 
			 2002–03 10 
			 2003–04 267 
			 2004–05 439 
			 2005–06(41) (42)504 
		
	
	(41) The allocation for 2005–06 includes part of the cost of a three-year project designed to evaluate the clinical value of rapid diagnostic testing for MRSA that is due to start in July. The project is being funded from the £3 million provided for a research programme on healthcare associated infections that was announced at the time of the publication of the Department's report "Winning Ways—working together to reduce healthcare associated infection in England".
	(42) Forecast expenditure.
	Over 75 per cent. Of the Department's total expenditure on health research is devolved to and managed by NHS organisations. Details of individual projects, including a number concerned with MRSA, can be found on the national research register at www.dh.gov.uk/research.

National Institute for Clinical Excellence

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many people were employed by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence in each of the last five years; and in what capacity;
	(2)  how many people are employed by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence; and in what capacity.

Jane Kennedy: This information is not held by the Department.

Nutrition

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what standards on meeting nutritional needs are included within Health and Social Care National Occupational Standards; and whether these standards are evidence-based.

Rosie Winterton: There are currently no evidence-based standards on meeting nutritional needs included within health and social care national occupational standards. However, the Department is developing a series of evidence and consensus-based guidelines relevant to occupational health practice as part of the redevelopment of NHS Plus as outlined in chapter seven, "Work and Health" of the White Paper, Choosing Health—Making healthy choices easier. The aim of this is both to increase the quality of NHS Plus services and to develop occupational health services in the national health service. These guidelines are collated on the evidence-based guideline section of the NHS plus website at: www.nhsplus.nhs.uk.
	In addition, the new National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), in a joint collaboration between the Centre for Clinical Practice and the Centre for Public Health Excellence, formerly the Health Development Agency, is developing a clinical guideline for the prevention, identification, assessment and management of overweight and obesity in adults and children. This is expected to be issued in February 2007.

Primary Care Trust Populations (Lancashire)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the population is of each primary care trust area in Lancashire.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		
			 Cumbria and Lancashire Strategic Health Authority—Lancashire primary care trusts Population 
		
		
			 Blackburn with Darwen 149,406 
			 Blackpool 140,654 
			 Burnley, Pendle and Rossedale 243,879 
			 Chorley and South Ribble 207,906 
			 Fylde 67,356 
			 Hyndburn and Ribble Valley 111,522 
			 Morecambe Bay 307,070 
			 Preston 135,222 
			 West Lancashire 107,146 
			 Wyre 119,530 
			 Total 1,588,691 
		
	
	The data was collected in April 2004 for general practitioner-relevant populations as at April 2003. The data has been constrained to the Office for National Statistics 2003 mid-year population estimates, based on the 2001 census, but do not include armed forces and some prisoners.

Prisons

Bob Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will place in the Library a copy of the speech given by Dr. Mary Piper on 28 June 2004 at the Institute of Physics on the health needs of prisoners; and what the source was for the research referred to in the speech on rates of Hepatitis C in prison cohorts.

Rosie Winterton: No transcript exists of Dr. Piper's speech but copies of the slides that accompanied it will be placed in the Library. The research to which Dr. Piper referred was reported in "The Incidence of Hepatitis C Virus Infection and Associated Risk Factors among Scottish Prison Inmates: A Cohort Study"— J.K. Champion, A. Taylor, S. Hutchinson, S. Cameron, J. McMenamin, A. Mitchell and D. Goldberg. American Journal of Epidemiology 2004 159: 514–519.

Smoking

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will consult on proposals to raise the age of sale for tobacco from 16 years to 18 years as part of the consultation process on the smoke free elements of the Health Improvement and Protection Bill.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 23 June 2005
	Raising the age of sale for tobacco from 16 years to 18 years is opposed by the health lobby and anti-smoking groups like ASH. There is also a lack of good evidence that increasing the age at which tobacco is legally sold has any impact on smoking rates among young people.
	For that reason, we have concentrated our effort on ensuring that the existing age limits are effectively enforced. The Choosing Health White Paper set out proposals as follows:
	"we propose that legislation be brought forward to create new powers to ban retailers from selling tobacco products, on a temporary basis, if they repeatedly flout the law. This complements the work already under way to improve proof of age schemes. We intend to support this measure by looking at higher fines and updated guidance for magistrates, along with education for retailers on better compliance with underage sales law. Before introducing these measures, we will consult with local authorities, the retail industry and other key stakeholders".

Stakeholder Consultations (Continuing Care)

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 9 June 2005, Official Report, column 627W, on continuing care 
	(1)  what meetings (a) Ministers and (b) officials have had with stakeholders in order to produce a national framework for assessment for continuing care; what topics were discussed at each meeting; on what dates these meetings took place; which stakeholders were present; and what further such meetings she plans to hold with stakeholders;
	(2)  what representations she has received from organisations on the development of a national framework for the assessment for continuing care.

Liam Byrne: Work to produce the national framework for continuing care is on-going, as is stakeholder communication, engagement and involvement.
	My hon. Friend, the Member for Thanet South (Dr. Ladyman), met with the ombudsman specifically to discuss continuing care, and the subject will have come up in numerous visits and meetings. I have met with local authority representatives and also with the Social Care Institute for Excellence, the General Social Care Council and Turning Point, amongst others, when the subject of continuing care was raised.
	Officials have studied the evidence given to the recent Health Select Committee inquiry on continuing care. Regular meetings take place with staff from the ombudsman's office to ensure their full participation and involvement in the development of the national framework.
	Officials held three national meetings on continuing care, on 17 December, 19 January and 4 March, to start to scope the issues that the national framework is to address and gather suggestions for ways forward. These meetings were attended by representatives from the ombudsman's office and representatives from strategic health authorities, primary care trusts and local authorities, including representatives from the Local Government Association and the Association of Directors of Social Services.
	Meetings and/or discussions have also occurred with numerous organisations, members of the public, researchers and academics, including the Royal College of Nursing, Help the Aged, Age Concern, the Alzheimer's Society and the Long Term Medical Conditions Alliance. A stakeholder event is planned in July to share progress and to gain contributions in particular from organisations with patient/service user and carer networks and professional organisations.
	An electronic discussion forum has been established for regular communication and through which staff from across the health and social care community and wider stakeholder groups can contribute to specific parts of the framework.